Negotiations between UnityPoint, Amerigroup go into weekend

Negotiations between UnityPoint Health and Amerigroup of Iowa will continue this weekend to discuss a contract before Sunday's deadline, an official said Friday.

The medical health network and Amerigroup, one of two remaining managed-care organizations in the state, have not yet agreed upon a contract to provide for Medicaid recipients for 2018. Discussions on the contract 'will continue this weekend,” said Amerigroup spokesman Tony Felts in an email to The Gazette Friday.

With the deadline on Sunday, UnityPoint Spokeswoman Teresa Thoensen said in an email to The Gazette on Thursday that officials 'are still working toward a resolution by the end of the calendar year.”

UnityPoint, one of the largest medical networks in Iowa with facilities that include St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, announced last month it had notified approximately 54,000 patients that its contract with the managed-care organization could end Sunday.

If an agreement isn't reached by this weekend, UnityPoint providers and clinics no longer will be able to provide care to Amerigroup members beginning April 1.

If this is the case, Amerigroup recipients would need to change their insurer or transfer to a new provider.

Department of Human Service spokesman Matt Highland said if a Medicaid member's provider is no longer in their managed-care organization network, they may pursue an insurer change 'for 'good cause.'”

'First, the member must contact their current MCO to go through the MCO grievance process for resolution,” Highland said in an email to The Gazette Friday.

Thoensen confirmed Friday UnityPoint Health is contracted with UnitedHealthcare for next year.

Officials have not commented on the specific nature of the negotiations, or what has yet to be agreed on for the contract.

l Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com