14-05-2025
Contract dispute could impact thousands needing medical attention
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – UnitedHealthcare members in South Carolina could soon lose access to treatment and doctors at Bon Secours due to a contact dispute.
Bon Secours and UnitedHealthcare have a contact that is set to expire July 1. Both said they are at opposite ends of the bargaining table, requiring to continue working with each other.
Come July 1, if an agreement is not reached between the companies, the two will no longer continue services as part of an in-network option for patients. This would mean if patients still wanted to see there Bon Secours doctor under UnitedHealthcare's insurance, they could, but would pay out-of-pocket and at a much higher cost.
Bon Secours said they have been in negotiations since January, and around 30,000 patients will be impacted if an agreement is not reached.
Both companies said the other is asking too much.
'We've made repeated efforts to secure a fair agreement that reflects today's health care environment, but UnitedHealthcare continues to underpay compared to market standards,' said Matt Caldwell, President, Bon Secours Greenville market.
Bon Secours said they are working towards an agreement that would allow them to continue providing high quality care to patients, but UnitedHealthcare said that the rate they are asking them to pay them is too high.
'Bon Secours St. Francis is seeking a price increase of nearly 32% for our commercial plans over the next three years, along with a substantial rate hike for our Medicare Advantage plans, which would make them the most expensive in our South Carolina network.' said Trasee Carr, Corporate Communications with UnitedHealthcare.
Through four months of negotiations, both companies state they are only looking out for the best interest of their patients.
'We are committed to doing everything possible to avoid any network disruption,' said officials at Bon Secours.
They called out UnitedHealthcare, saying their unwillingness to collaborate threatens to disrupt care for thousands of patients.
'Our top priority is to reach an agreement that remains affordable and ensures continued access to the health system,' UnitedHealthcare responded. 'We hope Bon Secours St. Francis shares our commitment and collaborates on solutions that South Carolina families and employers can afford.'
At this time, it is unclear if either party is willing to come closer to fulfilling what the other is asking of them.
UnitedHealthcare tells us they proposed an offer to Bon Secours to extend their current contract through July if negotiations are still ongoing, however they said Bon Secours refused that offer.
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