12/04/2022
UHC update
Dear valued patient,
This is a note with an important update regarding your care at Triangle Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates. We care greatly about you, in our practice of musculoskeletal medicine. It is unfortunate when the business of running a medical practice may negatively impact the practice of medicine.
We need to make you aware of a conflict that has arisen with our group and United Health Care. Your health insurer has unilaterally changed the contract that was previously agreed upon by both parties, impacting reimbursement for care and services rendered at TARAโlowering rates reimbursed to us. This is not just an issue with Triangle Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates, itโs across many practices in the state and the United States. The current 40% drop makes reimbursement well below the actual cost of the infusion drugs, making it impossible for the practice to purchase the drugs at a significant loss to the practice. In the business of medicine, you may have heard of practices โdropping outโ of Medicare, as they cannot sustain costs with rates reimbursed from Medicare. The current situation with UHC and our group is similar to this.
We need to assure you that we are actively trying to resolve these issuesโ-without disruption to your care provided here. We have had to temporarily suspend infusions as well as new UHC patients into our practice, while these discussions progress. We have NOT nor would we want to disrupt our care for you and your health. These continue to be of utmost importance to us. Please check here for updates, but know that reaching our staff and your doctor and provider has not changed one bit.
We value our relationship with you dearly. We look forward to continuing that relationship for a long time. Thank you so much for your understanding in this. Best to you from all of us here at TARA.