Sparks Health System and UnitedHealthcare have renewed their network relationship, ensuring that Fort Smith-area residents enrolled in UnitedHealthcare commercial and Medicare health plans have continued access to Sparks Health System’s hospital and its facilities.
As a part of this agreement, Sparks Clinic physicians are back in-network for UnitedHealthcare members. The agreement is retroactive to Aug. 1. The exception is Sparks Medical Center in Van Buren, which is again in-network as of Nov. 1.
The renewed relationship includes new performance incentives that recognize Sparks’ efforts to achieve quality goals that lead to improved patient outcomes and lower costs.
“Having collaborative, sustainable relationships with health plans is critical to improving access, quality and the cost of health care services in the River Valley,” Sparks CEO Dan McKay said in a news release. “Our new contract with UnitedHealthcare will allow us to continue fulfilling our mission of providing safe, compassionate health care services and enriching the lives in the communities we serve.”
“Sparks Health System is an important community partner and offers the people served by UnitedHealthcare and their families greater choice and access to quality, cost-effective care,” said Steve Wilson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas.
UnitedHealthcare serves more than 320,000 Arkansans enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare Advantage health plans with a network of 86 hospitals and more than 10,000 physicians and other care providers statewide.
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