Aetna Expands Provider Network for Medicare Advantage Members in Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn., Aetna (NYSE : AET) announced today that beginning January 1, 2010, its Medicare Advantage members will have access to MidState Medical Center and Windham Hospital as part of Aetna’s Medicare network of participating health care facilities in Connecticut. This network expansion is part of a larger agreement recently reached between Aetna and Hartford Healthcare, a system that includes both MidState Medical Center and Windham Hospital.

Under this new agreement, Aetna Medicare Advantage plan members will be able to receive covered services, at in-network rates, from MidState Medical Center and Windham Hospital. These hospitals have participated in Aetna’s commercial network for several years and will continue to do so under this broader deal.

"Aetna is excited about this new, expanded agreement with MidState Medical Center and Windham Hospital,” said Martha Wofford, Northeast region general manager for Aetna’s Consumer Segment. “These hospitals have provided excellent care to our commercial-plan members for many years, and we’re delighted that our recent agreement with Hartford Healthcare will expand access to these facilities for our Medicare Advantage plan members.”

“We feel strongly that our broader agreement with Aetna will allow us to develop new programs that will give us the opportunity to drive meaningful improvements in patient safety and chronic care management for our patients,” said Jim Blazar, senior vice president and chief strategic officer of Hartford Healthcare. “These types of programs can be particularly helpful for Medicare beneficiaries, so we are glad that this agreement includes increased access to MidState Medical Center and Windham Hospital for Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plan members.”