Arizona’s Leading Physical Therapy Provider Challenges Profit-Prioritizing Practices, Urges Patients to Advocate for Fair Healthcare Access
Foothills Sports Medicine Physical Therapy (Foothills), Arizona’s largest and highly regarded provider of musculoskeletal and physical therapy services, is taking a bold stance against UnitedHealthcare (UHC) for what it sees as a prioritization of profits at the expense of patient well-being. This comes in the wake of UHC’s reported profit of $34 billion so far this year, while employer premiums continue to climb by 15% annually.
“Throughout months of negotiations, we have faced challenges in reaching mutually agreeable reimbursement rates with UnitedHealthcare that adequately address the essential costs associated with delivering quality care,“ said Mike Basten, PT, DPT, MTC, CEO of Foothills Sports Medicine Physical Therapy. “This is a difficult decision for us to make, but it is the only way we can ensure that we can continue to provide Arizonians with convenient access to the local healthcare they know and trust.”
Foothills has been recognized as Arizona’s top-rated physical therapy provider for the last 6 years; however, UHC’s low reimbursement rates have forced Foothills to opt-out as a network provider to maintain their uncompromising standards in delivering high-quality and affordable patient care.
Foothills is urging its patients to contact United Healthcare and express their concerns about this change. Patients can also contact their employer’s human resources department to ask that they add Foothills Physical Therapy back to their network.
“We are committed to advocating for our patients to have access to the best care possible, regardless of their insurance provider,” said Basten. “Our hope is that United Healthcare will reconsider its position and agree to provide us with fair reimbursement rates. Until then, we will continue to work with our patients to ensure that they have access to the care they need.”
Foothills believes in the power of choice for patients and the right to access the care they need when they need it. The company is committed to standing up for its patients and the integrity of healthcare in the face of profit-driven decisions.
Those impacted can take action by contacting UnitedHealthcare and expressing their concerns about these restrictive policies and by standing with Foothills through an active petition https://foothillsrehab.com/sign-the-petition/
Patients who are experiencing an impact on their care can also contact their employer’s human resources department to ask that they add Foothills Physical Therapy back to their network.
