ECHN, UnitedHealthcare Sign a New Two-Year Deal

The stalemate between Eastern Connecticut Health Network and UnitedHealthcare/Oxford Health Plans is over.

ECHN is back ''in-network'' with UHC after the provider and insurer signed a new two-year network participation agreement on Thursday, both sides said in a joint news release.

The agreement goes into effect immediately.

The former contract primarily affected services at Rockville General Hospital and Manchester Memorial Hospital.

ECHN dropped UHC after that deal expired on Oct. 15. ECHN continued to honor those holding UnitedHealthcare policies for emergency care at both hospitals but general patients had to seek care elsewhere or pay out of network rates.

It affected most UHC commercial policy holders. ECHN officials said they made the decision based on "inadequate reimbursement for care." Both sides maintained they were still negotiating.

ECHN's chief executive officer applauded the new deal.

“We are pleased that members of UnitedHealthcare/Oxford Health Plans will again have access to health care services at our two hospitals, Manchester Memorial and Rockville General,” says Peter J. Karl, President and CEO at ECHN. “This new agreement with United/Oxford allows us to continue achieving our mission to improve the well-being of our communities by providing high-quality compassionate health care and ensures that we can continue to re-invest in the programs, facilities, equipment and medical talent that they depend on.''

Karl hinted it was a long waiting game for patients.

''I would like to thank the members of our community, employers and physicians for their patience during this time, as well as our legislators for their support,” he said.

Stephen Farrell, UnitedHealthcare New England's chief executive, termed the contract an important one. 

“Our new agreement with ECHN builds upon UnitedHealthcare’s commitment to provide Connecticut residents with broad access to quality, affordable health care,” Farrell said. “ECHN is an important provider of health care services in eastern Connecticut, and we know our customers appreciate having local access to their facilities.”

UHC counts about 600,000 Connecticut residents and more than 8,400 physicians and 34 hospitals on its statewide roster.

A UHC spokesman said those who may have switched insurers during an open enrollment period should check with their human resources offices regarding when they could go back to UHC.