UnitedHealthcare and Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands, Va., have signed a new agreement to enable UnitedHealthcare customers in Tazewell County to have local access to health care. The partnership took effect Oct. 1.

UnitedHealthcare’s commercial health plan members will have more in-network access to the comprehensive list of specialty care services at CVMC under this agreement, according to a statement from the two companies. Clinch Valley Medical Center is a 175 bed acute care hospital located in Tazewell County, in southwestern Virginia.

With the addition of Clinch Valley, UnitedHealthcare says its customers now have access to a health care provider network of more than 11,100 physicians and 90 hospitals throughout Virginia.

“This agreement underscores our commitment to provide access to quality, affordable health care in Southwestern Virginia,” said Jim Cronin, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic in the statement.