FAQs about our negotiation with CHI St. Vincent
Our current contract with CHI St. Vincent remains in effect through March 31, 2025. If we are unable to reach an agreement, CHI St. Vincent’s hospitals, facilities and its physicians will be out of network, beginning April 1, 2025.
Our top priority is to renew our relationship and ensure our members have continued, uninterrupted access to CHI St. Vincent.
Yes. Our goal is to reach a long-term contract that is affordable for the people and employers we serve while avoiding any disruption to our members. We are committed to utilizing the remaining time on our contract to engage in continued good-faith negotiation with the goal of renewing our relationship.
In the event we are unable to reach an agreement, CHI St. Vincent would be out of network for the following benefit plans, effective April 1, 2025:
- UnitedHealthcare employer sponsored commercial plans, including UMR
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, including Group Retiree and Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP)
In the event CHI St. Vincent leaves our network, people enrolled in our Group Retiree PPO plans may still receive care at a CHI St. Vincent facility or with a CHI St. Vincent 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.
We know the care CHI St. Vincent 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 hospital or physician no longer participates in our network. We are fortunate to have a broad network of hospitals and physicians throughout the region that are readily able to provide high-quality care that meets the needs of our members should CHI St. Vincent leave our network.
Our members can choose from thousands of physicians and specialists as well as numerous hospitals throughout the state, including but not limited to the following:
- Arkansas Family Care Network
- Baptist Health Medical Center – Conway
- Baptist Health Medical Center – North Little Rock
- Baptist Medical Center
- Medical College Physicians Group
- National Park Medical Center
If one of our members is in the middle of treatment at a CHI St. Vincent facility or with a CHI St. Vincent 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 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.
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.