COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Patients insured with the company UnitedHealthcare will now be able to go to Prisma Health and be insured.
There have been months of negotiations between the two healthcare companies after Prisma stopped accepting United’s in-network benefits.
According to statements from both companies, Prisma and United reached an agreement on a contract Friday that extends for multiple years.
“People enrolled in employer-sponsored commercial plans as well as our Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree, can now begin receiving in-network services from Prisma, as of July 19,” a statement from United said.
Mark O’Halla, CEO of Prisma Health, described the agreement as an “equitable reimbursement that reflects our increased cost.”
“These terms will allow us to prioritize patients’ needs and provide our physicians and hospitals with the resources required to deliver high-quality health care to United health plan members,” O’Halla said in a statement.
Prisma said it was negotiating to do what’s right by the patient. United told WSPA News in Greenville on Thursday: “Our latest offer would ensure Prisma is reimbursed at rates that are more than fair and reasonable.”
The impact during negotiations was felt for patients who were insured with United and had to deal with one of the largest hospital systems in the state not working with their insurance company. United also oversees Medicare for some patients, which means some of those patients were forced to pay out of pocket, WIS affiliate WYFF reported.
According to a statement from Prisma Health, UnitedHealthcare failed to reimburse patients for services going back to 2022.
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