Espaillat, Torres Lead Members Urging Resolution Between UnitedHealthCare and Montefiore Espaillat

Jan 22, 2021
Health
Press

NEW YORK, NY – In a letter to UnitedHealth Group and the Montefiore Health System, Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Ritchie Torres (NY-15), in collaboration with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17), call for the urgent and immediate resolution of negotiations that have stalled since last month while potentially leaving over 60,000 without in-network access to their doctors and hospitals in their communities while continuing to combat COVID-19.

“During this COVID-19 pandemic, New Yorkers relied on UHC and Montefiore in tandem for their health care that they knew and relied upon. We are told the result of arrested negotiations leaves over 60,000 patients in the Bronx, Newburgh, and White Plains without in-network access to their doctors and hospitals. Many of us have heard from constituents concerned about this loss of healthcare access.,” stated members in the joint letter.

As previously reported, contract negotiations between the Montefiore Health System and UnitedHealthcare have stalled for nearly a month as more than 60,000 patients could be burdened with higher fees for services no longer considered in-network and face increased out of pocket expenses as a result. This is a critical time especially for minorities communities that continue to be devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Members urge UnitedHealth Group to return to the negotiating table and work in good faith to reach a mutually agreeable outcome.

Read the letter in its entirety below:

January 21, 2021

David S. Wichmann
Chief Executive Officer
UnitedHealth Group
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1459

Dr. Philip O. Ozuah, MD, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
Montefiore Health System
111 East 210th Street,
Bronx, NY 10467

Dear Messrs. Wichmann and Ozuah:

We understand that UnitedHealth Group and its affiliate UnitedHealthcare of New York (“UHC”) and the Montefiore Health System (“Montefiore”) were unable to come to a resolution and agreement during negotiations, before the end 2020. During this COVID-19 pandemic, New Yorkers relied on UHC and Montefiore in tandem for their health care that they knew and relied upon. We are told the result of arrested negotiations leaves over 60,000 patients in the Bronx, Newburgh, and White Plains without in-network access to their doctors and hospitals. Many of us have heard from constituents concerned about this loss of healthcare access.

With over two weeks since the negotiation deadline having passed, we urge both UHC and Montefiore to return to the negotiating table and work in good faith to reach a mutually agreeable outcome. Until this matter is resolved, we will continue to urge all parties to work together and find a solution to this impasse that invariably impacts the health and safety of New Yorkers who will still require healthcare during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Respectfully,

# # #

Nota de Prensa
Para divulgación inmediata
22 de enero, 2021

ESPAILLAT Y TORRES ENCABEZAN MIEMBROS DE LA DELEGACIÓN DE CONGRESISTAS DE NUEVA YORK QUE REPRESENTAN EL NORTE DE MANHATTAN, EL BRONX, NORTH-CENTRAL QUEENS, WESTCHESTER Y HUDSON VALLEY, EN LA SOLICITUD DE UNA RESOLUCIÓN ENTRE UNITEDHEALTHCARE DE NUEVA YORK Y EL SISTEMA DE SALUD MONTEFIORE

NEW YORK, NY – En una carta dirigida a UnitedHealth Group y al Sistema de Salud Montefiore, los congresistas Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) y Ritchie Torres (NY-15), en colaboración con los congresistas Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) y Mondaire Jones (NY-17), solicitaron una resolución urgente e inmediata de las negociaciones que se han estancado desde el mes pasado y que potencialmente dejan a más de 60,000 personas sin acceso dentro de la red a sus médicos y hospitales en sus comunidades mientras se continúa combatiendo el COVID-19.

“Durante esta pandemia de COVID-19, los neoyorquinos confiaron en UHC y Montefiore en conjunto para la atención médica que conocían y en la que confiaban. Nos han informado que, como resultado de la paralización de las negociaciones, más de 60,000 pacientes en El Bronx, Newburgh y White Plains han sido dejados sin acceso dentro de la red a sus médicos y hospitales. Muchos de nosotros hemos escuchado las preocupaciones de los constituyentes por esta pérdida de acceso a la atención médica”, declararon los miembros en la carta conjunta.

Como se informó previamente, las negociaciones del contrato entre el Sistema de Salud Montefiore y UnitedHealthcare se han estancado durante casi un mes, mientras más de 60,000 pacientes podrían tener que pagar tarifas más altas por servicios que ya no se consideran dentro de la red y, como resultado, enfrentar mayores gastos de su propio bolsillo. Este es un momento crítico, especialmente para las comunidades minoritarias que continúan siendo devastadas por la pandemia de COVID-19. Los miembros del Congreso instan a UnitedHealth Group a regresar a la mesa de negociaciones y trabajar de buena fe para alcanzar un resultado mutuamente aceptable.

Puede leer la carta en su totalidad a continuación:

21 de enero, 2021

David S. Wichmann
Director Ejecutivo
UnitedHealth Group
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1459

Dr. Philip O. Ozuah, MD, PhD
Presidente y Director Ejecutivo
Montefiore Health System
111 East 210th Street,
Bronx, NY 10467

Apreciados Señores Wichmann y Ozuah:

Nosotros entendemos que UnitedHealth Group y su afiliada UnitedHealthcare of New York (“UHC”) y el Sistema de Salud Montefiore (“Montefiore”) no pudieron llegar a una resolución ni a un acuerdo durante las negociaciones, antes de finales de 2020. Durante esta pandemia de COVID-19, los neoyorquinos confiaron en UHC y Montefiore en conjunto para la atención médica que conocían y en la que confiaban. Nos han informado que, como resultado de la paralización de las negociaciones, más de 60,000 pacientes en El Bronx, Newburgh y White Plains han sido dejados sin acceso dentro de la red a sus médicos y hospitales. Muchos de nosotros hemos escuchado las preocupaciones de los constituyentes por esta pérdida de acceso a la atención médica.

Habiendo pasado más de dos semanas desde la fecha límite de negociación, instamos a UHC y Montefiore a volver a la mesa de negociaciones y trabajar de buena fe para alcanzar un resultado mutuamente aceptable. Hasta que se resuelva este asunto, continuaremos instando a todas las partes a trabajar juntas y encontrar una solución a este estancamiento que invariablemente impacta la salud y seguridad de los neoyorquinos que aún necesitarán atención médica durante esta pandemia de COVID-19.
  
Respetuosamente,

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