Pinellas leaders demand deal between UCH, Baycare | News

Clearwater, Florida -- Pinellas County government and business leaders will meet at 10 this morning at the courthouse in Clearwater to demand United Healthcare and Bay Care to reach an agreement.

The insurance company and hospital system failed to reach an agreement, terminating their contract on November 26.

The impact reaches about 400,000 people in the Tampa Bay area, leaving many of them scrambling to find new doctors or pay out-of-network costs.

Federal law requires the hospital system to cover emergency care.

Click: United Healthcare, Bay Care at impasse

Local leaders are demanding the companies:

-Exercise corporate responsibility and good stewardship

-Put aside all purely selfish interests

-End polarization and intransigence

-Come together in good faith to resolve differences in the public interest