Since this morning, the UTMB has informed Aetna that we intend to terminate our commercial insurance contract with the company within 180 days. This means that as of May 6, 2021, we will no longer be a network provider for patients who have commercial insurance from Aetna. Aetna Medicare Advantage plans are not affected. This measure also does not affect UTMB employees who are insured by the UT system (UT Select Plan managed by Blue Cross/Blue Shield). If you are leaving a group and starting another practice or if you would like to join a new practice or group and be contacted to discuss signing the contract at your new location, please provide the following information. Until you sign a new agreement, the new tax number and location will be considered not to be on the network. This form should only be used for the following reasons. It is not intended for the termination of a supplier contract/supplier contract, and you should contact your local network representative directly for these requests. Raimer announced the end of the medical department`s relationship with Aetna during a conference call Thursday, saying the health insurance company was no longer reimbursing the system at competitive prices. Aetna, one of the country`s leading health insurers, insures about 39 million people with a network of about 1.2 million healthcare providers and more than 5,700 hospitals.

In a statement, a spokesman for the company said the insurer was surprised by the UTMB`s announcement. Controversial negotiations over medical care pricing have resulted in several notices of termination in recent years. Houston Methodist and UnitedHealthcare, as well as Memorial Hermann and Cigna, planned to terminate their contracts last year, but were extended in 2020. In October, CommonSpirit Health, the parent organization of several Texas-based health care providers, including CHI St. Luke`s, announced that it would terminate its contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. CHI St. Luke`s will also terminate its contract with Molina Healthcare by November 25. Using our supplier portal on Availability, you can perform tasks for your patients with Aetna plans, including: « We are surprised to learn today of the UTMB press release – after many months of silence from the UTMB – that the UTMB has decided to terminate its commercial contract with us.

Aetna maintains open communication with the UTMB and is disappointed that our members were informed of this prior to Aetna. The medical service`s contract with Aetna officially ends on May 6. Termination of pregnancy does not affect patients who have a Medicare Advantage plan through Aetna. Cheryl Sadro, UTMB`s chief financial officer, said there would be an additional grace period for patients covered by Aetna to continue ongoing care such as cancer treatment. Note: If the supplier moves to another country or leaves a group practice, it will be considered non-parity from the date of termination indicated below. « We`ve had the same contract (with Aetna) for 10 years, » Raimer said. « You know that your medications, the things you`re treated with, have increased in cost. And yet, we haven`t been able to have Aetna`s collaboration to cover the things that have gone up. The best thing we can do at this point is simply to say, « We`ve enjoyed working with you for the last 10 years. We need to keep going and work with people who will work with us. We will continue to serve the emergency room as a provider in the network after May 6, 2021, and we will be able to care for patients who choose to use services outside the network after that date.

We will also offer 90 days of networked care after the end of the contract for patients who are already on treatment at that time. During this three-month period, UTMB will work with Aetna to transfer the care of these patients to a new networked provider. And, of course, we will work with any patient who decides to switch providers to ensure that medical records are transferred in a timely manner. Do not fill out this form if you wish to cancel a complete contract. To terminate a contract, please follow the termination terms (marked as TERM) in your contract. As a public institution, the UTMB has a responsibility to the public, our patients and our mission to be a good resource manager. We can no longer afford to act as a network provider under the current terms of the Aetna trade agreement. But Raimer said the contract negotiations with Aetna had nothing to do with its main budget problems. He noted that the medical service had already tried to renew its contract with the insurer in 2010. When you retire, leave your status or change your supplier group, use this form to let us know. We must terminate your existing contract with us.

When you move or change jobs, you can sign a new agreement for your new practice or location. The information you provide to us is also used to update our suppliers` tools. If you are upgrading to a new status, once this cancellation request is complete, complete an application to begin the contract and registration processes. Note: If you are a hospital provider who wants to join a group already under contract, you do not need to complete the application independently. .