Southwest Diagnostic Imaging (SMIL) announced that their contract termination with UnitedHealthcare is effective as of Thursday, July 11, 2024. As a result, SMIL is no longer considered part of UnitedHealthcare’s network.
“We are at an impasse with UnitedHealthcare on a new contract,” said Michael Douglas, CEO at SMIL. “We had hoped to reach an agreement prior to the termination date, as we know this situation is disruptive to our patients and community. It’s unfortunate we could not come to terms on a new contract deemed fair to both parties. We will continue to make our best efforts to reach an agreement with UnitedHealthcare so that in-network access can be restored to patients with this insurance.”
SMIL remains committed to giving each and every patient the best possible individualized care while surpassing industry expectations of safety, quality, and expertise. This includes ensuring board-certified radiologists are on-site for contrast coverage and medical supervision. In addition, SMIL has fully credentialed and registered technologists operating their equipment on-site, unlike others in the industry who utilize remote technologists.
SMIL is seeking reimbursement rates from insurance companies that will allow them to support their investments in patient safety, experience, and quality. Even with rising costs, especially in the areas of labor and medical supplies, SMIL has continued to invest in equipment upgrades and subspecialty radiology services to ensure the highest quality care for patients.
This means that all SMIL locations are now out-of-network for patients who have UnitedHealthcare health plans, including Optum. This contract was only for services provided at any SMIL location.
SMIL remains contracted with other key insurance companies in Arizona. A full list is available here.
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