ECU Health, UnitedHealthcare Rebuild Partnership

ECU Health and UnitedHealthcare have reached a new multi-year agreement that restores in-network access for over 100,000 patients across eastern North Carolina. The contract covers patients with Commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid UnitedHealthcare plans and includes full in-network access to all ECU Health providers, facilities, and services.

The health system had gone years without meaningful increases in reimbursements from UnitedHealthcare despite rising costs associated with delivering care. ECU Health's priority throughout negotiations was to protect and restore patients' access to affordable care close to home while ensuring the organization can continue providing essential services across the region.

Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO at ECU Health, stated that meeting the mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina means ensuring the sustainability of the services they provide. This agreement ensures patients can access the care they trust at ECU Health, close to home, and allows them to move forward with UnitedHealthcare in a way that supports the long-term health of their communities.