MercyOne, a system of health care facilities based in Iowa and Illinois, announced it reached a three-year agreement with health insurance provider UnitedHealthcare. This agreement ensures in-network access to MercyOne hospitals, doctors and specialists for patients covered by UnitedHealthcare MedicareAdvantage plans. Negotiations began earlier this year after MercyOne proposed price increases that would have pushed MercyOne out of the network for some UnitedHealthcare plans. “Our goal always is to ensure access to care for the communities we serve; we never wanted disruptions for patients across the MercyOne system,” said Bob Ritz, president and CEO of MercyOne, in a prepared statement. “This agreement was necessary to ensure MercyOne (including Genesis Health System) can continue delivering the high-quality, affordable care people need. With fair reimbursement, we can continue to invest in our colleagues, medical staff, innovative treatments and important health programs, protecting access to care now and in the future.” More information can be found at MercyOne.org/UHC.