New Haven (January 16, 2013) – John R. Quinn, President & CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut (VNA/SCC), announced that contract negotiations for home health care services with United Health Care (UHC) have been unsuccessful. Due to a lack of rate agreement as of the date of this press release, VNA/SCC will cease all services to UHC insured individuals effective at the end of the current three year contract, March 31, 2013.
"The failure to negotiate a fair and reasonable rate for home health care services with the VNA/SCC is a two-fold issue," stated Quinn. "Not only will the VNA/SCC’s relationship with United Health Care be terminated, but their insured premium paying policy holders will see a displacement of service. The many United policy holders, currently under our umbrella of care, will be forced to find alternate home health care treatment facilities and options. No longer will those in this area of the state have the ‘choice’ to select the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central CT, a 109 year old non-profit organization that offers quality care to all its patients."
During negotiations, VNA/SCC requested rates that reflect current costs of nursing, therapy and medical social work in the home environment. UHC made only one rate offer and refused a VNA/SCC counter offer. Effective immediately, following a directive from UHC, VNA/SCC has stopped taking UHC patients and transitioning any patient under their care by March 31, 2013.
Quinn added, "Looking at the broader picture, it would seem we share a common goal of seeking to provide quality, yet cost effective care. And further, knowing the costs associated with doing business in living in our state, it is disheartening that United Health Care is not willing to pay for clinical services at a reasonable rate. We are a mission-driven health care organization and provide subsidized care to the uninsured and underinsured in Greater New Haven – but we will not subsidize a for-profit insurance company."
UHC rates are the lowest of any carrier VNA/SCC contracts with, and are also well below Title 19 Medicaid rates, which have not changed since 2007.
Quinn concluded, "the future of home health care lies not in insurance company profits, but in assuring quality, professional health care to avoid hospitalizations, and this will be the continued goal of VNA/SCC."
About VNA Health Systems
VNA Health Systems is comprised of the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut (VNA/SCC) and CareSource, Inc.
Founded in 1904, the VNA/SCC, which is the original VNA of New Haven, Milford, East Haven and the Valley, is a state licensed, non-profit, community-based home health care agency. The VNA/SCC staff consists of highly skilled nurses, therapists, medical social workers and home health aides. A vital resource to the communities it serves, the VNA/SCC provides a wide range of specialized clinical services, community programs, the Nurturing Families Network and subsidized care, funded through First Niagara, to those who are in need. The agency employs 175 staff members, has an average census of around 1,000 patients and makes over 150,000 home visits per year. The agency is the founder of the Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing. The VNA/SCC is supported in part by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Milford and Valley United Way organizations, corporate sponsors and individual donors. To learn more about the VNA/SCC visit www.vnascc.org.
CareSource strives to maximize the quality of life for its clients and their caregivers in the home and health care settings. Their services include homemakers, companions, Certified Nurses Aides and live-in aides. To learn more about CareSource visit www.caresourceinc.org.
