NYSUT reported this morning that United Healthcare (UHC) and the
Carolinas Health Care System (CHS) have reached a contractual agreement,
resulting in the return of all CHS physicians to The Empire Plan
network. The effective date will be retroactive to March 1, 2015,
ensuring that Empire Plan enrollees and dependents do not experience any
interruption in their network benefits for services received from CHS
providers. Any questions regarding CHS providers or claims should be
directed to UHC by calling The Empire Plan at 1-877-7-NYSHIP
(1-877-769-7447); press or say 1 for the Medical Program
This week, the Senate passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula that determines Medicare physician payments and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two years. Congress has acted 17 times to temporarily prevent drastic payment cuts resulting from use of the SGR formula. The “doc fix” bill replaces the SGR with alternative, value-driven payment strategies. This is good news for people with Medicare, who need to know their doctors will be there when they need them.