Kentucky Medical Association

New UHC Medicare Advantage Contract
posted 1/16/08

In 2009, a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plan will be offered in Kentucky.  If a medical practice already participates with UnitedHealthcare, the practice will automatically be entered into this plan. To opt-out of the program, the physician must send a letter in writing within 30 days. 

In December 2007, UnitedHealthcare sent over 200 medical practices in Kentucky a letter announcing the new Medicare Advantage Plan, but when physicians attempted to opt-out of the Advantage program, they were informed that their contract with UnitedHealthcare would be canceled. 

The KMA contacted a representative at UnitedHealthcare and discussed the “all products” clause in Kentucky; for commercial insurance products and other state regulated business, Kentucky law gives physicians the right to decline participation in one product without affecting participation in other products. The representative from UnitedHealthcare said the letter sent to Kentucky physicians was delivered in ERROR.  The UHC representative assured the KMA that Kentucky physicians have the choice of whether or not to participate in the Advantage program without it affecting their UHC contract.  UnitedHealthcare sent a packet with the CORRECT letter by overnight delivery on January 11, 2008.  Physicians have 30 days to review the UHC contract and determine whether or not to participate.  The corrected letter from UnitedHealthcare is available here.  Please review the Medicare Advantage contract, and if you choose to opt-out, follow the instructions below (Number 9 in the UHC Contract Amendment):

    9.) The Physician Contract allows us to amend it by sending you a copy of the amendment 90 days prior to the amendment’s effective date.  Your signature is not required to make the amendment effective.  However, if you do not wish to participate in our Medicare Advantage network, please provide written notice to us within 30 days of your receipt of this amendment at the following address:

      United Healthcare Networks
      Centralized Physician Contracting
      8800 Grand Oaks Circle
      2nd Floor
      Tampa, FL 33637

      If we receive such notice from you during such time period, this amendment will not take effect.

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Kentucky Medical Association 4965 US Hwy 42, Ste 2000 Louisville, KY 40222
(502) 426-6200 Fax (502) 426-6877 email member@kyma.org