New York Prohibits Unitedhealth Group From Requiring In-Network SNFs To Also Participate In United Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans

On January 7, 2016, the New York Attorney General’s office announced it had reached a settlement with UnitedHealth Group (United) related to provider network requirements for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The AG’s office had received complaints that UHG required SNFs seeking to participate in United’s broader insurance network to also accept reimbursement through United’s Medicare Advantage institutional special needs plan (I-SNP). The AG’s office said, “that by requiring SNFs to accept its I-SNP plan as a condition for participating in its broader provider network, United was foreclosing competition from alternative I-SNP providers . . .