White River Health in Arkansas

We are actively negotiating with White River Health in Arkansas. Our top priority is to reach an agreement while ensuring continued network access to the health system

Our current contract with White River Health remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2026, for people enrolled in our Medicare Advantage plans.

In the event that we are unable to reach an agreement, White River Health would be out of network for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP), effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Our current negotiation does not impact our contract with White River Health’s hospitals, facilities or physicians for people enrolled in our employer-sponsored commercial plans. Those members continue to have in-network access to White River Health with no change, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.

Facts you should know

UnitedHealthcare has served Arkansas communities for many years, and we remain committed to the people and families who rely on us for access to quality, affordable health care.

We recognize the important role White River Health plays in delivering care across communities in north-central Arkansas. Access to local physicians and health care services is important, and we understand the value of receiving care close to home.

Our priority continues to be renewing our agreement with White River Health so people can maintain in-network access to the physicians and care they know and trust while keeping health care affordable for Arkansas families and seniors.

We remain at the negotiating table and are fully committed to engaging in productive, good-faith discussions focused on reaching an agreement.

We value our relationship with White River Health and believe strong provider relationships are built on collaboration and a shared commitment to the communities we serve.

We know the care White River Health provides to our members is not only important but also personal. We also understand how disruptive it can be for our members and their families when a health system no longer participates in our network.

If White River Health leaves our network, we will support impacted members by providing information about continuity of care and other participating physicians and hospitals available in the region.

Continuity of care

If one of our members is in the middle of treatment with a White River Health hospital or physician and they go out of network, they may qualify for continuity of care. Continuity of care provides continued in-network benefits for a specified period of time after a hospital or physician leaves our network. A few examples of patients who may qualify include:

  • Women who are pregnant.
  • Patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer, or those currently in active cancer treatment.

Members who have questions about continuity of care or alternative hospitals and physicians in their area 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 hospitals and doctors.

In the event White River Health leaves our network

People enrolled in our Group Retiree PPO plans may still receive care from a White River Health physician as an out-of-network provider if they are a Medicare-approved provider that accepts the plan. Their share of the cost will be the same as if they were part of the network.

UnitedHealthcare Group Retiree members are encouraged to speak with their physician to confirm they’ll continue to see them, regardless of their network status. 

For additional information about our Group Retiree plan as well as information on how to find a provider in their area, UnitedHealthcare members should go to retiree.uhc.com.

Our track record of renewing contracts with providers is strong

We negotiate thousands of provider contracts every year, and the vast majority of those negotiations result in renewed contracts with no disruption for our members.

We are fully committed to engaging in productive, good-faith negotiation and remain focused on our goal of renewing our contract with White River Health to allow people to have continued access to quality, affordable care.

We hope White River Health shares our commitment to reaching an agreement for the benefit of the people we collectively serve.