The Texas Medical Association reminds practices that now is a good time to determine whether you are enrolled in UnitedHealthcare’s (UHC) Optum Pay Premium program, which charges a fee for access to certain electronic data.
Physicians and practices who wish to opt out of the program should do so by March 31.
UHC in early March launched the premium service, which gives practices and hospitals access to 13 months of electronic remittance advice for a fee of 0.5% per payment, or $5 for every $1,000. Practices were given an option to enroll in a 30-day free trial and were automatically subscribed if they did not opt out.
TMA and other organizations – including the American Medical Association, Medical Group Management Association, and American Hospital Association – raised concerns about the premium program on regularly scheduled calls with UHC. Those concerns included the sudden fee for access to remittance advice, and the auto-enrollment of practices into the premium program that do not opt out after the free trial expires.
Based on those discussions, UHC announced earlier this month it will continue to allow free access to 13 months of electronic remittance advice and allow practices to opt out of the premium program by March 31.
“This change recognizes the importance of having downloadable provider remittance advice (PRA) documents available to help with your financial management and claim reconciliation activities,” UHC said.
Find more information, including how to opt out, on the UHC website.
Last Updated On
March 29, 2021
Originally Published On
March 24, 2021