UnitedHealthCare Extends Physician Appeal Deadline

UnitedHealthcare has informed the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio that it has extended the reconsideration request date for the UnitedHealth Premium physician designation program to Feb. 11, 2009. This extension provides physicians with additional time to send in their requests for reconsideration before the data is displayed on the UHC website in March.

According to the news release sent out by UHC on this extension this additional review period is intended to provide physicians in 20 specialties evaluated an extended opportunity to review their assessment report, seek clarification and, if necessary, request reconsideration of their designation. If physicians do not want the results that are shown in their designation letter to display on UnitedHealthcare’s Web sites until they receive the outcome of their reconsideration, they need to make sure their request is postmarked by Feb. 11, 2009 (or their faxed or emailed request is sent by Feb. 11, 2009.) Note: All reconsideration requests must include any additional information the physician wants considered as well as the signed attestation. When UnitedHealthcare receives the request within this time frame, they can delay displaying the new designation until the review is complete.

It is important to note that physicians may request reconsideration of their assessment at any time. If the request is made after Feb. 11, UnitedHealthcare will review the request. Any changes that occur as a result of the reconsideration will be updated weekly on UnitedHealthcare’s Web sites.

UnitedHealthcare handles all reconsideration requests in accordance with the process described in the Reconsideration Process – Frequently Asked Questions document. This document explains the reconsideration process, gives the information needed to submit a request for reconsideration, and provides the phone number a physician can call with any questions. This document is available at https://ereports.uhc.com/ReportCard/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fReportCard%2fdefault.aspx

Physicians can access this site by the user ID and temporary password that are included at the end of their UnitedHealth Premium designation letter. You can also find the document at UnitedHealthcareOnline.com > Clinician Resources > UnitedHealth Premium >“UnitedHealth Premium Physician Designation.

If you have questions, you are encouraged to contact the UnitedHealth Premium® physician designation program staff toll-free at (866) 270-5588 or e-mail unitedpremium@uhc.com.