Patients at Avina Women's Care's Gahanna office could lose in-network insurance coverage Oct. 1 if the practice and UnitedHealthcare fail to reach a new contract.

No deal has been reached.

Avina, which operates 13 locations across central Ohio and serves about 65,000 patients annually, has been negotiating with UnitedHealthcare but has not secured an agreement to keep its OB-GYN providers in-network, NBC4 reported Aug. 28. The current contract remains in effect through Sept. 30.

The Gahanna office at 5175 Morse Road, Suite 300, near Hamilton Road, currently lists UnitedHealthcare among its accepted insurances. Providers there include David Jones, D.O., and Elizabeth Slates, A.P.R.N.–C.N.P., offering fertility, gynecological, obstetric and postpartum, and surgical services.

Avina is seeking a nearly 18% price increase over three years for care covered by UnitedHealthcare commercial plans, according to a source familiar with the negotiations cited by NBC4.

A UnitedHealthcare spokesperson said in a statement Aug. 28: "Our goal is to use the several weeks remaining on our contract to reach an agreement that is affordable for central Ohio families and employers while maintaining continued access to Avina Women's Care's doctors."

Avina Medical Director Dr. Sangeeta Crouser said the practice has been engaged in good-faith negotiations and that its top priority is minimizing disruption, especially for patients who are pregnant, undergoing treatment, or preparing for surgery.

What patients should know

Avina has begun notifying patients about the possible change. Those who are pregnant, in active treatment, or preparing for or recovering from surgery may qualify for continuity of care. That option could allow them to keep seeing an Avina provider at in-network rates for a limited period, even after the contract ends.

Eligibility is determined by UnitedHealthcare based on individual circumstances. Avina is encouraging affected patients to call the member services number on their insurance card. Patients whose coverage comes through an employer should also contact their benefits team.

In a letter to patients, Avina encouraged those who want to stay with their current provider to tell UnitedHealthcare directly that maintaining access matters to them.

The Gahanna office can be reached at (614) 476-4101.