Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Texas Tech Physicians announced Monday they have issued a notice of termination for their Commercial and Medicare Advantage participation agreement with UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company.
Unless an agreement is reached prior to this date, the termination date is set for March 31, 2026.
“Texas Tech Physicians opened discussions with UnitedHealthcare in early 2025 for the Amarillo, Lubbockand Permian Basin campuses as the rates within these agreements have not been updated in 13 years,” said Martin Clay, TTP Executive Director. “The decision to terminate is primarily due to disagreements over reimbursement rates amid the rising cost of patient care. Health care costs have risen significantly in the last 13 years while TTP’s reimbursement rates with UHC have remained constant.”Clay added: “We have continued good faith conversations with UHC to reach mutually beneficial contract terms, with a goal to finalize the agreement prior to the termination date. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, UnitedHealthcare has not yet offered any responses to our proposals that we can reasonably accept to finalize the amendments before the April 1, 2026, renewal date.”
TTP is the clinical practice of TTUHSC.
With the termination of UHC, more than 30,000 patients will lose in-network access to more than 700 TTP providers across West Texas and the Panhandle when the contract expires on March 31, according to the TTUHSC news release.
Clay added after extensive market research, the final proposal was fair and allowed for competitiveness in the market.
“Texas Tech Physicians’ primary commitment is to the health and well-being of our patients,” Clay said.“We assure our patients that Texas Tech Physicians will continue to provide care, even if out-of-network. However, patients may face higher out-of-pocket costs for medical services received after the termination date.”
Cole Manbeck, director of communications for UnitedHealthcare, released a statement to the Avalanche-Journal on behalf of the healthcare insurer.
“Texas Tech Physicians are seeking unsustainable price hikes that would increase health care costs for people and employers,” the statement reads. “Our top priority is to reach an agreement that is affordable while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to the provider group. We are proposing rate increases that would continue to reimburse Texas Tech at market-competitive rates. We remain committed to continued good-faith negotiation but need Texas Tech to provide a proposal that’s affordable for West Texas families and employers.”
According to TTUHSC, patients are encouraged to stay informed regarding the negotiations and to review their health care options.
Patients can contact UHC customer service at the phone number represented on the back of their insurance card for specific questions regarding benefits and coverage during this transition period.
For more information, visit https://www.texastechphysicians.com/united-healthcare.aspx
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech Physicians, TTUHSC warn of UnitedHealthcare termination
Reporting by Adam D. Young, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
