We are actively meeting with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) in an effort to renew our relationship. We want to keep VMFH in our network and are committed to engaging in productive negotiation.

We remain committed to working with VMFH and requested an extension to the contract for Virginia Mason that would allowed both organizations additional time to reach an agreement without creating stress and anxiety for our members.

VMFH rejected our proposal.

We will remain at the negotiating table with VMFH for as long as it takes to reach an agreement that will ensure the people we serve have continued access to care that is both quality and affordable.

If we are unable to reach an agreement, VMFH’s hospitals and Virginia Mason Medical Group providers will be out of network for members enrolled in employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans, Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington (Medicaid) plans, as well as Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP), on the following dates:

• Jan. 1, 2025: Virginia Mason Medical Center and Virginia Mason’s providers
• March 1, 2025: CHI Franciscan Health hospitals:
  • St. Francis Community Hospital
  • St. Elizabeth Hospital
  • St. Anne Hospital
  • St. Michael Medical Center
  • St. Anthony Hospital
  • St. Joseph Medical Center
  • Clare Hospital

CHI Franciscan Health providers remain in-network at this time and are not impacted by this negotiation.

Virginia Mason Medical Center will be out of network on Jan. 1, 2025, if we are unable to reach an agreement.

The following CHI Franciscan Health hospitals will be out of network on March 1, 2025, if we are unable to reach an agreement:

• St. Francis Community Hospital
• St. Elizabeth Hospital
• St. Anne Hospital
• St. Michael Medical Center
• St. Anthony Hospital
• St. Joseph Medical Center
• St. Clare Hospital

This negotiation impacts members enrolled in the following plans:

• Employer-sponsored and individual commercial plans
• Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington (Medicaid) plans
• Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP)

Members enrolled in our Medicare Advantage and Group Retiree plans may continue to receive care at a VMFH facility and from a VMFH physician, 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 and Group Retiree plans are encouraged to speak with the provider to confirm they will provide care, regardless of their network status.

Members with a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan who have selected an OptumCare primary care provider may continue to access care at VMFH’s hospitals and from VMFH’s providers, even if VMFH is no longer in-network. 

If we are unable to reach an agreement, Virginia Mason Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Group providers will no longer be in-network for members with a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan who have selected a Virginia Mason Medical Group primary care provider, effective Jan. 1, 2025.  

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
• uhc.com/communityplan/washington

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 understand that network changes can be difficult for our members. Our priority is to ensure our members have access to the care they need through a robust network of hospitals and physicians.

If we are unable to renew our agreement with VMFH, the members we are privileged to serve will continue to have ample access to in-network care from a broad network of providers and hospitals across the Seattle-Tacoma region, including:

• Harborview Medical Center
• Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center
• Multicare Auburn Medical Center
• Multicare Covington Medical Center
• Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital
• Multicare Tacoma General Allenmore
• Seattle Children's Hospital
• Swedish Cherry Hill
• Swedish Health Services
• Swedish Medical Center Ballard
• University of Washington Medical Center
• Valley Medical Center

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
• uhc.com/communityplan/washington

UnitedHealthcare members who are in the middle of treatment at a VMFH hospital or from a VMFH physician 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.

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.

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
• uhc.com/communityplan/washington