UW Medicine and Aetna ink fresh contract deal
After months of negotiations, Aetna and UW Medicine have reached a new agreement, reinstating UW Medicine as an in-network provider for patients with Aetna health insurance plans. The new agreement, effective retroactively from June 1, 2025, aims to ensure patients can access UW Medicine services at affordable in-network reimbursement rates.
Key aspects of the agreement include coverage for services at major UW Medicine facilities such as Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center – Northwest, UW Medical Center – Montlake, UW Medicine Primary Care and Urgent Care clinics, and physician services at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The agreement also includes retroactive reimbursement for all care provided since June 1, ensuring patients who received care during the contract lapse are billed at in-network rates.
UW Medicine's CEO, Dr. Tim Dellit, described the agreement as fair, sustainable, and patient-centered. He emphasized the importance of fair reimbursement rates to maintain hospital operations and UW Medicine’s role as the state's primary safety net healthcare provider. CVS Health, which merged with Aetna, expressed a commitment to maintaining access to trusted healthcare providers while managing costs.
The breakdown in negotiations earlier was due to disputes over payment rates. UW Medicine argued that Aetna's rates were lower than any other insurance companies' on the market, while Aetna said UW Medicine was demanding "unreasonable" increases. However, the new contract resolves these disagreements to the satisfaction of both parties.
Some Aetna-insured patients would have been eligible for "transition-of-care" coverage on a case-by-case basis for people who are pregnant or actively receiving treatment, such as cancer care. Had UW Medicine and Aetna not come to a compromise, many patients would have either faced higher out-of-pocket costs or had to transfer their care to a different provider that was in-network.
UW Medicine encourages patients with questions to reach out at [email protected]. Monica Prinzing, a spokesperson for CVS Health (which merged with Aetna), expressed pleasure at reaching the deal.
[1] UW Medicine press release, [2] Aetna press release, [3] Seattle Times article, [4] King5 News article.
- The new agreement between Aetna and UW Medicine, effective June 1, 2025, ensures patients can access health care services at Bellevue's UW Medicine facilities, such as hospitals like Harborview Medical Center and clinics, at affordable in-network reimbursement rates.
- UW Medicine, a key player in Seattle's health-and-wellness sector and the state's primary safety net healthcare provider, will continue to provide services at major facilities, including science-focused institutions like Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
- As part of the agreement, Medicare patients under Aetna health insurance plans can now receive in-network reimbursement rates for their health care services at UW Medicine facilities, alleviating any potential financial burdens.
- The new contract between UW Medicine and Aetna addresses past disagreements over financing and business aspects, with both parties now committed to maintaining access to trusted healthcare providers while managing finances sustainably.
- The agreement's resolution has potentially prevented many patients from facing higher out-of-pocket costs due to needing transportation to different providers or having to change their care providers altogether, affecting their overall health care experience and well-being.
