UnitedHealthcare dropped more than 80 anesthesiologists from its network as of March 1, affecting at least five surgery centers and one pain and spine practice in North Carolina, The News & Observer reports.
The anesthesiologists come from Raleigh-based American Anesthesiology of North Carolina and Charlotte, N.C.-based Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants, both affiliated with Mednax.
Sunrise, Fla.-based Mednax won't be part of UnitedHealthcare's network in North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas and Georgia because of a pricing dispute. An estimated 11,141 customers and 176 physicians in North Carolina could be affected.
If the entities remain unable to agree on pricing, Charlotte-based Pediatrix Medical Group of North Carolina, Florence-based American Anesthesiology of South Carolina, and Jacksonville, N.C.-based Obstetrix Medical Group of Coastal Carolina will go out of network later this year.
American Anesthesiology of North Carolina serves several facilities owned by Raleigh-based WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Durham-based Duke University Health System and Chapel Hill-based UNC Health, including these ASCs and practices:
- Blue Ridge Surgery Center (Raleigh)
- Capital City Surgery Center (Raleigh)
- Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center
- Rex Surgery Center of Wakefield (Raleigh)
- Surgical Center for Dental Professionals (Raleigh)
- Carolina Pain & Spine (Wake Forest)