UnitedHealthcare Announced It Is Dropping Brown University Health for Medicare Advantage

UnitedHealthcare Announced It Is Dropping Brown University Health for Medicare Advantage

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage subscribers in Rhode Island received a letter on Tuesday notifying them, "Our current contract with Brown University Health, formerly Lifespan, and Newport Hospital. This means that they will no longer be part of your plan’s network starting on July 1, 2025.”

The letter is dated May 20.

UnitedHealthcare has seen its stock fall dramatically in recent months and it has been reported the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the company. The Wall Street Journal reported on May 15, "The DOJ is investigating UnitedHealth Group for possible criminal Medicare fraud related to its Medicare Advantage business."

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The stock is down 41% from its 52-week high.

In an email to GoLocal, Cole Manbeck, Director Communications for UnitedHealthcare, writes, "This impacts Brown University Health’s hospitals for our Medicare Advantage plans. Their physicians are not impacted at this time and will continue to remain in our Medicare Advantage network, regardless of the outcome of the negotiation."

 

A May 22 post to UnitedHealthcare’s website adds more.

 

 

The website states:

UnitedHealthcare’s network negotiation with Brown University Health (formerly Lifespan) in Rhode Island

We are actively negotiating our contract with Brown University Health (formerly Lifespan) with the goal of renewing our relationship for its hospitals for our Medicare Advantage plans

For the past several months we have been engaged in negotiation with Brown University Health (formerly Lifespan) regarding our network relationship for its hospitals for our Medicare Advantage plans. Our current agreement with Brown University Health remains in effect through June 30, 2025.

Our top priority is to utilize the time remaining on our hospital contract to reach a long-term agreement that is affordable while maintaining our ability to continue offering the competitive benefits our Medicare Advantage members rely on.

If we are unable to reach an agreement, Brown University Health’s hospitals will be out of network for our Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree plans, effective July 1, 2025.

This story was updated at 9:17 PM on 5/27/2025.