Mediation or Facilitation of Disputes

Care Choices is pleased to offer participating and nonparticipating (out of network) providers the opportunity to mediate disputes. Care Choices and the provider first will attempt an informal resolution to the dispute. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, the next step is for Care Choices and the provider to agree to mediate. A mediator will be chosen by mutual agreement. The parties will meet with the mediator and the mediator will assist the parties in reaching a mutually satisfactory resolution of the dispute. The parties also may agree to facilitation.

Care Choices previously included an arbitration process and agreement to arbitrate in its participating provider agreements. Care Choices has determined that arbitration is not a preferred method to resolve disputes and, as a matter of policy, prefers mediation or facilitation. If these processes are not successful, Care Choices will consider arbitration as an alternative to litigation by mutual agreement with the provider.