UnitedHealthcare apologized on Tuesday for letters that caused customer confusion amid contracttalks with OhioHealth.
UnitedHealthcare will send customers new letters this week explaining the company's contractwith OhioHealth. The medical insurer will also apologize for confusion its original letters causeddoctors and patients, 10TV News reported.
ONLINE EXTRA: Read The Letter
Last month, about 200,000 patients received letters informing them that if contract talks failedto produce a new contact, then they would have to find new doctors and hospitals or face payinghigher out-of-network fees.
On Monday evening, the two entities agreed to terms of a new contract that will run through May2011.
In the new letter, Robert Falkenberg, chief operating officer of UnitedHealthcare, wrote, "Iaccept responsibility for this and hope that we did not cause any unnecessary anxiety for you oryour family members."
"I have also apologized to your doctors and their office staff for any confusion that ourcommunication may have caused them," Falkenberg wrote.
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Previous Stories:
June 9, 2008: UnitedHealthcare, OhioHealth Reach Deal
June 6, 2008: UnitedHealthcare, OhioHealth Yet To Reach New Contract
May 28, 2008: Customers React To Health Insurance Dispute
May 28, 2008: Insurance Dispute May Force Many To Change Doctors
