8 questions to ask before renewing a payer contract

Payer contracts get renewed more often by inertia than by intent. The auto-renewal clause kicks in, rates carry over and the next planning cycle starts before anyone has actually pulled the document and read it. The result can be fee schedules that have not kept pace with the cost of delivering care and contract terms that quietly favor the payer.

These eight questions are worth working through before the renewal window closes — whether the answer comes from the contract itself, the payer manual or a direct conversation with your network rep.