Hospitals under Greenville, N.C.-based ECU Health — a collaboration between East Carolina University and Vidant Health — will remain in network for some UnitedHealthcare plans through Aug. 6, the insurer and health system said.
Hospital access will continue for employer-sponsored commercial, Medicare Advantage and individual family plans until early August, rather than July 15.
“We are committed to using the next few weeks to work with ECU Health on a long-term agreement that provides all of the North Carolinians we serve access to the entire ECU Health System,” a UnitedHealthcare website said.
ECU Health clarified the news does not change previous network updates. Vidant Medical Group physicians remain out of network for these plans, and Kinston Medical Endoscopy is slated to go out of network Nov. 1, according to UnitedHealthcare. ECU hospitals and facilities, as well as Vidant Medical Group physicians, have been out of network for UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid plan in North Carolina since April 29. For both Medicaid and the other plans, legacy ECU physicians will go out of network Feb. 15, 2027.
This story was last updated July 21.
At the Becker's 5th Annual Fall Payer Issues Roundtable, taking place November 2–3 in Chicago, payer executives and healthcare leaders will come together to discuss value-based care, regulatory changes, cost management strategies and innovations shaping the future of payer-provider collaboration. Apply for complimentary registration now.