Updated November 1, 2024
Samaritan Health Services providers in Oregon are out of network effective November 1, 2024
Despite repeated efforts to engage in a discussion, we were unable to reach an agreement with Samaritan Health Services (Samaritan) in Oregon. As a result, Samaritan’s physicians and provider services are out of network for members enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans, as well as Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans, effective November 1, 2024.
Earlier this year we were unable to reach an agreement with Samaritan’s hospitals. As a result, the following hospitals remain out-of-network for members enrolled in commercial and Medicare Advantage plans:
- Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center
- Samaritan Albany General Hospital
- Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital
- Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital
- Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital
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 continue to remain open and willing to engage in 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 remain 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.
We continue to offer a broad network of hospitals and providers 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
Despite repeated efforts to engage in a discussion, Samaritan’s physicians and provider services are out-of-network for members enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans, as well as Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans.
Earlier this year we were unable to reach an agreement with Samaritan’s hospitals.
As a result, the hospitals listed below remain out-of-network for members enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans, as well as Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans, since January 9, 2024:
- Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center
- Samaritan Albany General Hospital
- Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital
- Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital
- Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital
We understand and appreciate how disruptive it can be for our members and their families when a hospital 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
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 PPO and Group Retiree plans may continue to receive care from a Samaritan provider and at a Samaritan facility, 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 PPO and Group Retiree plans are encouraged to speak with the provider to confirm they will provide care, regardless of their network status.
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
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 are disappointed that Samaritan continues to be unwilling to exchange contract proposals or engage in any negotiations to renew our relationship.
While we continue to remain open and willing to engage in 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 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 providers across Oregon.
For support finding in-network facilities and 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
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 with a Samaritan provider or 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
- 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.
Members enrolled in our Medicare Advantage 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 PPO and Group Retiree plans are encouraged to speak with the provider to confirm they will provide care, regardless of their network status.
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