Two groups of Connecticut doctors suing United Healthcare won a temporary reprieve Thursday against the insurer’s plans to cut an estimated 2,200 providers from its Medicare Advantage network, according to court documents.
Bridgeport U.S. District Court Judge Stefan R. Underhill granted a preliminary injunction that was requested by the plaintiffs — the Fairfield County Medical Association and Hartford County Medical Association.
The order bars United Health from terminating any of the two associations’ members from its network; notifying Medicare Advantage customers that certain providers will be terminated as of Feb. 1, 2014; and removing or failing to include the associations’ affected doctors in its 2014 physician directories.
The injunction will remain in effect until the court can rule on the merits of the associations’ claims.
Terrence O’Hara, a United spokesman, said in an email that the company disagrees with the ruling and intends to appeal immediately. But he said the insurer will comply with the order while that process is underway.
“We believe the court’s ruling will create unnecessary and harmful confusion and disruption to Medicare beneficiaries in Connecticut,” O’Hara wrote.
He said the order does not apply to all affected Connecticut doctors — just those who are members of the two associations.
Roy W. Breitenback, the attorney representing the doctors, called the ruling a victory.
“This temporary injunction prevents United Healthcare from cutting some of the most vulnerable patients, mainly the elderly, disabled and some terminally ill from its Medicare Advantage network,” he said in a statement.
State Attorney General George Jepsen, who has pushed United for more information on the doctor cuts, also released a statement praising the injunction.
“This decision confirms my view that these terminations — unprecedented in scope — offend public policy and threaten irreparable harm to patients whose relationships with their doctors are at risk of disruption,” Jepsen said.
The doctors groups are alleging that the cancellation notices sent out by United in October breached the terms of its provider contracts and denied doctors their due process rights under the Medicare Act.
United has argued that the cuts amounted to contract amendments, which have less strict rules on notifying doctors.
O’Hara said United still has nearly 3,000 primary care physicians and 4,400 specialists in its Connecticut Medicare Advantage network.
“We know that these changes can be concerning for some doctors and customers, and supporting our customers is our highest priority,” he said. “United Healthcare will continue to stay focused on the people we serve.”
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