PeaceHealth has reached a new two-year agreement with UnitedHealthcare, ensuring our PeaceHealth patients with this insurance can continue to receive their care in their own community for longstanding, trusted providers at in-network rates. The new contract will begin July 1, 2013 resulting in no interruption of in-network benefit coverage for patients.
Earlier this month letters were mailed stating PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center would become out-of-network by July 1, 2013 if a new contract was not reached. We understand this news brought great concern to our patients. It is our desire that our patients continue to receive care close to home at in-network benefit levels. This agreement represents great news for patients seeking care at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, since the contract with UnitedHealthcare would have ended this month.
PeaceHealth Southwest offers advanced technology, highly skilled caregivers, and a commitment to safe, compassionate care. Many of our life-saving treatments are not available anywhere else in our local community.
“This is great news for PeaceHealth and our patients. It allows our patients to receive care in their own community from longstanding, trusted PeaceHealth providers,” said Kevin Walstrom, senior vice president/chief financial officer of PeaceHealth. “We reached an agreement that allows us to sustain our mission and ensures our communities have access to high quality health care. We value collaboration and appreciate UnitedHealthcare working with us in that spirit.”
This new UnitedHealthcare contract covers not only PeaceHealth Southwest but all PeaceHealth medical centers and our medical groups located in Alaska, Washington and Oregon.
