Aetna Chairman And CEO Ron Williams Testifies On Need For Fundamental Health Care Reform Before Senate HELP Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Aetna (NYSE: AET) Chairman and CEO Ronald A. Williams today appeared before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee to outline the critical components of needed health care reform and to signal Aetna’s readiness to work with Members of Congress to create and implement practical solutions.

In his testimony, Mr. Williams identified the key components to achieving meaningful systemic change: Finally provide coverage for all Americans regardless of their health conditions through an enforceable individual coverage requirement with subsidies, to make coverage affordable for all, and insurance market reforms; use health information technology as an important tool to address cost and quality issues; achieve payment reform that rewards physicians and hospitals for value or quality of care rather than just quantity; engage consumers in their own health care by focusing on prevention and wellness; and encourage small businesses to offer employee coverage through tax credits.

“The health care system needs fundamental reform, and that will require unprecedented determination and collaboration across the health care system,” he said. “We are ready and willing to work with you - because we know that success will be rooted in public/private cooperation - to create and implement practical solutions that drive systemic change.”

The complete text of Mr. Williams’ testimony is available on Aetna.com. To learn more about Aetna’s plan for transforming the health care system, visit www.healthreformplan.com.