MORGANTOWN — West Virginia residents insured by The Health Plan can once again seek urgent care treatment at MedExpress.
The two companies notified The Dominion Post of their renewed relationship on Tuesday.
In May, The Health Plan (THP) terminated its contract with MedExpress after several months of failed negotiations. The parting was acrimonious, with THP alleging MedExpress was “demanding exorbitant rates” and MedExpress saying THP surprised them with a termination notice that prematurely ended their existing contract.
The parting put the 26 West Virginia MedExpress sites out of network for THP members, leaving them with access to only 17 other urgent care centers across the state. It affected THP’s managed Medicaid and commercially insured members. In 2018, MedExpress provided medical care to about 35,000 THP members.
Asked how the relationship was renewed, MedExpress
President Dean Hatcher said in an email,
“Both MedExpress and The Health Plan remained committed to finding ways to
renew the agreement in the best interest of our members and patients. The
conversations were ongoing, and over the past several months, we were able to
reach mutually beneficial terms.
“We know,” he said, “our collaborative relationship provides value to THP members across the state by creating affordable, convenient access to urgent care services through MedExpress’ 26 West Virginia locations. Together, we can best serve the health care needs of the community.”
THP did not respond to requests for comment. But President and CEO James Pennington said in the joint announcement, “We recognize the value that MedExpress provides to our members in urgent care services and we’re looking forward to a refreshed relationship with MedExpress that allows us to do what we do best – provide quality care at an affordable price.”
As part of the renewed relationship, the companies said, THP and MedExpress are collaborating to provide free well-child screenings to children. The screening is available to children ages 3-21 who are enrolled in THP’s Medicaid plan.
THP is a not-for-profit health maintenance organization established in 1979 and based in West Virginia, with offices in Wheeling, Charleston, Morgantown and Massillon, Ohio.
MedExpress was founded in Morgantown in 2001 and has administrative offices in Morgantown and Canonsburg, Pa. In 2015, it was acquired by Massachusetts-based Optum, the health services wing of Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group.
Tweet David Beard @dbeardtdp Email dbeard@dominionpost.com
