UHC and Cincinnati-based Health Alliance Terminate Agreement

10/09/2007

As many employees have heard in news reports, the contract between the Cincinnati-based Health Alliance and United Healthcare expired Sept. 30, 2007.  This means that the following hospitals and providers are no longer in-network for our health plans:

Jewish Hospital	Fort Hamilton Hospital
Drake Center	University Pointe Surgical Hospital
University Hospital	Cincinnati Medical Imaging
Alliance Primary Care Group

Emergency care at Health Alliance hospitals is still being covered at the in-network level.

United Healthcare and the Health Alliance continue to negotiate. It is unknown at this time if the two parties will reach a mutually acceptable agreement or when this might occur.

The Christ Hospital and both St. Luke’s Hospitals in the greater Cincinnati area remain in the United Healthcare network since they are no longer part of the Health Alliance.

United Healthcare is negotiating on behalf of employers in an effort to help keep health care costs affordable for both employers and employees. ABX Air supports these efforts. Employees seeking care in the Cincinnati market should consider using other in-network facilities to receive the highest level of benefit.

The following Cincinnati-area hospitals are NOT affected and remain in the United Healthcare network:

Clinton Memorial Hospital	Mercy Western Hills
Highland District Hospital	Deaconess Hospital
Fayette Memorial Hospital	St. Elizabeth Medical Center North
Bethesda North Hospital	St. Elizabeth Medical Center South
Bethesda Arrow Springs	St. Elizabeth Medical Center Grant County
Christ Hospital	Mercy Hospital Fairfield
Good Samaritan Hospital	Middletown Regional Hospital
Mercy Hospital Anderson	McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital
Mercy Hospital Mt. Airy	St. Luke Hospitals
Mercy Hospital Clermont

In addition, in-network hospitals in the Dayton and Columbus markets are not affected. Employees with questions about the network providers can call United Heathcare at (888) 350-5607 or visit www.myuhc.com. Additional updates will be provided as they become known.