Batesville, Arkansas – White River Health will end its relationship with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage on Jan. 1, 2027, hospital officials announced Wednesday. The decision means affected patients who want to keep the health system’s hospitals and physicians in network will need to review their coverage options.
The Batesville-based system cited frequent claim denials, administrative hurdles and requests for additional documentation. Officials said those issues increased the workload for physicians and care teams and delayed patient care.
According to White River Health, the decision followed more than a year of efforts to address problems with the insurer. The system said those discussions had not produced enough progress to continue the arrangement.
“For more than a year, WRH has worked in good faith with UnitedHealthcare to address ongoing challenges in our partnership,” said Shawna Ives, WRH’s chief financial officer. “Despite repeated efforts to resolve these concerns, we have not seen the progress necessary to support an effective working relationship.”
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Hospital officials said affected Medicare beneficiaries have until Dec. 7 to review and change their Medicare or prescription drug coverage during the annual open enrollment period. Changes made during that period take effect Jan. 1, the same date the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage arrangement ends.
For patients seeking to keep White River Health providers in network, officials identified several alternatives. Those include Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, Arkansas Integrated Providers Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP), Devoted, Healthspring and Tribute Select (HMO-POS / I-SNP), as well as traditional Medicare.
The health system directed patients to assistance with comparing their options ahead of the enrollment deadline. Officials said free, unbiased help is available through a licensed Medicare broker or the White River Area Agency on Aging, which can be reached at 870-612-3000.
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Additional information about the health system’s status with UnitedHealthcare is available at WhiteRiverHealth.org/UHC. The announcement concerns UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage specifically.
White River Health is an independent, nonprofit organization serving north-central Arkansas. Its facilities include White River Medical Center in Batesville and Stone County Medical Center in Mountain View, along with outpatient facilities, primary care clinics and specialty physician practices.
For affected beneficiaries, the two dates highlighted by the system are Dec. 7, the deadline to make coverage changes during annual open enrollment, and Jan. 1, when both those changes and the end of the insurer arrangement take effect.
