UnitedHealthcare’s Mid-Atlantic CEO Joseph Ochipinti called out two healthcare groups for their “cynical” contract negotiation strategy in an Oct. 6 statement.
Mr. Ochipinti specifically drew attention to Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine and Fulton, Md.-based Capital Women’s Care, a large mid-Atlantic OB-GYN practice.
He said Johns Hopkins “demanded unacceptable stipulations asserted by no other health system in the country,” relating to a provision he claimed “would allow it to refuse treatment for any employer it does not want to do business with.” According to the statement, Johns Hopkins is no longer negotiating with UnitedHealthcare.
“Johns Hopkins has NO desire to turn any employer or patient away from our care EVER,” Johns Hopkins said in a statement on its website. “We do need United to enforce our mutual contract terms with its own employer clients. United is simply refusing to do so.” Other than Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Florida, the system has been completely out of network since Aug. 25.