Updated January 9, 2024
Samaritan Health Services Hospitals in Oregon Are Out of Network Effective January 9, 2024
Despite months of repeated efforts to engage in a discussion, we were unable to reach an agreement with Samaritan Health Services (Samaritan) in Oregon. As a result, the hospitals listed below are out of network for members enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans, as well as Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and Group Retiree plans, effective January 9, 2024:
- Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center
- Samaritan Albany General Hospital
- Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital
- Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital
- Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital
Members will have continued, uninterrupted access to Samaritan’s physicians and provider services, which will remain in-network until November 1, 2024. Only Samaritan’s hospitals are out of network on January 9.
We are disappointed that Samaritan was unwilling to exchange contract proposals or engage in any negotiations to renew our relationship. While we continue to remain open to discussions with Samaritan, our primary focus at this time is ensuring that the members we serve have uninterrupted access to the care they need.
We remain open and willing to engage in productive, good-faith discussions with Samaritan to reach an agreement, and encourage Samaritan to work with us to renew our relationship.
Our goal is to establish a contract that helps ensure the people and employers we serve in the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast region have continued access to quality care but at an affordable cost. We are committed to good-faith negotiation and are hopeful that Samaritan will engage in productive discussions to reach a long-term agreement.
We have a responsibility to provide the people we serve with access to quality health care while also helping to contain rapidly rising health care costs.
Maintaining fair and competitive agreements with the hospitals and providers in our network is critical to our ability to meet this commitment to our members and customers.
Members will have continued access to Samaritan’s physicians and provider services, which will remain in-network until November 1, 2024.
Only Samaritan hospitals are out of network on January 9, 2024.
We continue to offer a broad network of hospitals across Oregon to ensure the members we serve have uninterrupted access to the care they need, including:
- PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Riverbend
- Salem Hospital
- Salem West Valley Hospital
We have created the following FAQs to ensure you and your family have the information needed regarding next steps as well as details to help meet your health care needs.
FAQs
The following Samaritan hospitals are out of network for members enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans, as well as Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and Group Retiree plans, effective January 9, 2024:
- Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center
- Samaritan Albany General Hospital
- Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital
- Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital
- Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital
Samaritan’s physicians and provider services will remain in-network until November 1, 2024.
Yes. Members will have continued, uninterrupted access to Samaritan’s physicians and provider services, which will remain in-network until November 1, 2024.
This negotiation impacts people enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans, as well as Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and Group Retiree plans.
Members enrolled in our Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and Group Retiree plans may continue to receive care at a Samaritan hospital, if the provider is Medicare-approved and accepts the plan.
The member’s share of the cost is typically the same as if the provider was part of the network.
Members enrolled in our Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and Group Retiree plans are encouraged to speak with the provider to confirm they will provide care, regardless of their network status.
Members will have continued access to Samaritan’s physicians and provider services, which will remain in-network until November 1, 2024.
For support finding in-network physicians, members can call the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website:
- myuhc.com
- myuhcmedicare.com
- retiree.uhc.com for Group Retiree plans
In the event of an emergency, UnitedHealthcare members should go to the nearest hospital. Emergency care will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in our network.
We remain open and willing to engage in productive, good-faith discussions with Samaritan to reach an agreement, and encourage Samaritan to work with us to renew our relationship.
We understand and appreciate how disruptive it can be for our members and their families when a provider no longer participates in our network. Our priority is to ensure our members have access to the care they need through a robust network of hospitals across Oregon, including:
- PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Riverbend
- Salem Hospital
- Salem West Valley Hospital
For support finding in-network hospitals, members can call the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website:
- myuhc.com
- myuhcmedicare.com
- retiree.uhc.com for Group Retiree plans
UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of treatment at a Samaritan hospital may qualify for continuity of care, which provides continued in-network benefits for a specified period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network. Examples of patients who may qualify include:
- Women who are pregnant (second or third trimester) through six weeks post-delivery.
- Patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer, or those currently in active cancer treatment.
Members who have questions about continuity of care should call the number on their health plan ID card. Members can also use the provider directory on our member website to search for alternative facilities.
UnitedHealthcare members should always go to the nearest hospital in the event of an emergency. Their services will be covered at the in-network benefit level, regardless of whether the hospital participates in UnitedHealthcare’s network.
For support finding in-network physicians, members can call the customer care number on their health plan ID card or visit their plan’s website:
- myuhc.com
- myuhcmedicare.com
- retiree.uhc.com for Group Retiree plans