Piedmont Healthcare has notified UnitedHealthcare of Georgia, Inc. of its intent to terminate its contract with Piedmont Newton Hospital on Jan. 31. The notification letter fulfills a 180-day pre-notification requirement in order to terminate the contract. With this termination, Piedmont Newton will join Piedmont’s five other hospitals and more than 1,400 Piedmont Clinic physicians as out-of-network with United.

According to Amanda Bartlett, Piedmont Healthcare Public Relations manager, retirees who have the United Medicare Advantage PPO Standard/Premium Plan on the state health benefit plan will not be affected.

“That means their current health plan benefits with the state will always allow them to have in-network access to Piedmont physicians and facilities,” she said.

Piedmont officials said the healthcare network will continue to evaluate insurance providers and their contracts in order to provide cost-effective services.

“Our top priority in any negotiation is our patients and their relationship with Piedmont doctors and hospitals — a relationship that United is intent on disrupting,” said Kevin Brown, CEO of Piedmont Healthcare. “We have asked United to negotiate consistently since last November. These efforts have produced no results and, in fact, United’s negotiating position has gone backward in the last month.

“As a result, we are out of network, we will remain out of network and we are planning for a future without United,” continued Brown. “Our patients, physicians and employees deserve that clarity.”