Ascension Wisconsin and UnitedHealthcare Locked in Dispute Over Reimbursement Rates

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 -- 12:00 PM

(Joe Schulz, Wisconsin Public Radio) Ascension Wisconsin and UnitedHealthcare have been locked in a months-long dispute over reimbursement rates.

And, according to Joe Schulz with the Wisconsin Public Radio, if the two sides don’t reach an agreement by October, Ascension could be dropped by UnitedHealthcare.

A spokesperson for Ascension said UnitedHealthcare has not offered rates that cover the rising costs facing the health care system, from inflation to higher prices for medication, equipment and supplies.

But UnitedHealthcare says Ascension is asking for large price hikes that could increase health care costs by nearly $55 million for consumers and employers in Wisconsin.

The insurer argues these demands would make Ascension one of the most expensive health systems in the region, especially for Medicare and Medicaid Advantage plans, and would push up premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Ascension Wisconsin’s facilities and doctors will be out-of-network for UnitedHealthcare members if no deal is reached by Oct. 1. UnitedHealthcare proposed extending its current contract with Ascension to give both organizations more time to negotiate without creating stress and anxiety for its members, but Ascension refused, according to the insurance company.

“We are actively engaged in good-faith negotiation with Ascension Wisconsin,” UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin CEO Dustin Hinton said in a statement. “Our top priority is to reach an agreement that is affordable for consumers and employers while providing continued, uninterrupted network access to Ascension’s hospitals and providers.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Ascension Wisconsin said UnitedHealthcare is “one of the largest and most profitable insurance companies in the country” and it has not offered rates that “reflect today’s dramatic financial realities facing health systems.”

“UnitedHealthcare’s proposal doesn’t keep pace with the extraordinary inflation health systems are battling,” the spokesperson said. “We urge UnitedHealthcare to prioritize the health and welfare of their members and agree to competitive and sustainable terms that ensure continued access to the doctors and hospitals their members trust.”

Other negotiations between Ascension affiliates and UnitedHealthcare have gotten close to the deadline. Ascension Florida had to reach a short-term agreement with United to stay in the network during negotiations earlier this year before both sides came to a multi-year agreement.

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