ECU Health, UnitedHealthcare Reach New Contract Deal After Months-Long Negotiation

ECU Health and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) have agreed to new contract terms after months of negotiations. The deal, which went into effect on Friday, allows more than 100,000 UHC-covered patients to access care from ECU Health providers without paying out-of-network rates. This is a significant relief for patients who had been facing higher costs since April 29 when the previous agreement expired.

The new contract covers commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid UnitedHealthcare plans, ensuring that patients have full in-network access to all ECU Health facilities and services. The health system has stated that its priority throughout negotiations was to 'protect and restore patients' access to high-quality, affordable care close to home.'

Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health, emphasized the importance of ensuring the sustainability of healthcare services in rural areas. He noted that this agreement will allow ECU Health to continue providing essential services while supporting the long-term health of its communities.