Piedmont to terminate Humana’s Medicare Advantage plan | News

Pete Pedersen, 82, a Newnan resident said he received a letter from Piedmont informing him of the problem and asking him to contact Humana to tell the company how important an agreement with the health care system is to him.

“It’s alarming,” Pedersen said. “I’m sure there are thousands of people this is alarming to.”

Nicole Dillon, senior communications specialist for Piedmont Healthcare, said the issue is with Humana’s Medicare Advantage plan, not other Humana plans. The information about the termination is available online, including a list of Medicare Advantage plans that the system does accept, she added.

“The ability for Piedmont to provide quality care to the patients we serve depends on many factors, some of which are the responsibility of the insurance company. This includes timely approvals for medically appropriate treatments and for medically appropriate transfers to differing levels of care,” Dillon said by email. “Because we have been unable to reach resolution with Humana on such aspects of care, despite repeated attempts to do so, we have provided notice of termination of our hospital agreement with Humana’s Medicare Advantage plan.”

She was unsure how many of their patients are covered by the plan. Humana also didn’t provide that information, but did say that the negotiations are ongoing.

“Humana is currently in negotiations with Piedmont to reach a new agreement prior to the effective date,” Nancy A. Hanewinckel, Humana East Division media relations, wrote in an email.

“This does not…