BREAKING NEWS: Baptist Memorial Health Care has reached an agreement with UnitedHealthcare that will see them remain in network, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to NEA Report on Nov. 14.
JONESBORO, Ark. — NEA Baptist will be out of network for patients under UnitedHealthcare beginning Nov. 15, according to a statement from hospital administration.
In a statement provided to NEA Report on Thursday, NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital said it has been unable to reach a new agreement with UnitedHealthcare, meaning the hospital and its affiliated providers will be out of network for patients covered under UnitedHealthcare’s employer-sponsored and Medicare Advantage plans starting Nov. 15, 2025. The VA, Medicaid, and Medicare Supplemental plans are not currently affected.
Full statement from Baptist Memorial Health Care:
NEA Baptist Memorial and United Healthcare have been unable to negotiate a new agreement that keeps care accessible to our patients with UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored and Medicare Advantage health plans. (The VA, Medicaid, and Medicare Supplemental plans are not currently affected.) While we remain committed to finding common ground, it’s clear to us that UnitedHealthcare does not match our urgency or desire to find a resolution.
NEA Baptist Memorial will be out of network for United Healthcare on November 15, 2025. Please know that we are doing everything we can to keep NEA Baptist Memorial accessible to you. At the same time, it’s important that we insist that UnitedHealthcare acts in the best interest of our community.
We encourage those eligible for Medicare to find a different health plan that guarantees in-network access to our hospital and physicians as we enter the 2026 open enrollment period beginning October 15.
For more information on our negotiations, community members can visit baptistonline.org/neauhc.
– Ayoka Pond | VP CDO | Administration | BMHCC Corporate Office
According to BaptistOnline.org, beginning November 15, affected patients may face increased costs for all NEA Baptist Memorial services except emergency care. These patients will still be able to access NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital’s emergency department at in-network benefit levels.
“Please know that we are doing everything we can to keep NEA Baptist Memorial accessible to you,” a statement on the website says. “At the same time, it’s important that we insist that UnitedHealthcare acts in the best interest of our community.”
The hospital encouraged patients to take action by calling UnitedHealthcare and voicing concerns. The hospital emphasized the open enrollment period from October 15 to December 7.
NEA Report will continue to follow this story.
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If you have to go to a hospital in Jonesboro be sure whoever is sending you there knows to send you to NEA. Sadly that may be a problem now but avoid St. Barnyards if you can. If you have to go to or take someone to the ER by all means go to NEA. I speak from personal experience with both.