SSM Health and United Healthcare agreed to extend their current contract for 30 days, or through January 31, 2026.
Negotiations have threatened in-network medical coverage for more than 140,000 people in the bi-state region.
United Healthcare says without a new contract, SSM’s hospitals, facilities, and physicians in Missouri and Illinois would be ineligible for United’s Medicaid and employer-sponsored plans.
Both sides are expected to continue talks in January. For now, United Healthcare patients can continue seeing SSM Health providers at in-network rates.
Sources: Columbia Missourian, Fox 2 News