Aetna and Concentra Announce New Worksite Wellness Offering

DDISON, Texas and HARTFORD, Conn. — Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced a preferred vendor relationship with Concentra that expands the new Aetna Health Connections Direct2YouTM offering to include worksite medical centers where experienced physicians and medical experts provide primary, urgent and occupational care. This new collaboration, which will be made available to Aetna’s plan sponsors, allows working Americans to receive wellness, prevention and acute care services at their workplace through Concentra’s innovative delivery methods.

Aetna Health Connections Direct2You currently offers a range of services within the workplace including biometric screenings that measure cholesterol, blood pressure, weight and height; wellness and preventive care; nutrition and fitness counseling; Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) services; prescription drug consultations and disease management. The information gathered at the worksite is connected to other health programs purchased by employers, giving them a comprehensive health and wellness picture of their employee populations while assuring the confidentiality of personal health information.

Concentra was selected by Aetna for its leadership in delivering employer health solutions and ability to improve access to health care services through employer worksite facilities and urgent care centers. Through this collaboration, Concentra will operate worksite medical centers where experienced physicians and medical experts provide primary, urgent, and occupational care to improve the health and well-being of employees. Combining best-practice strategies to prevent disease and promote healthy lifestyles, Concentra providers will also offer physical therapy, immunizations, and fitness and athletic training at employer-based health centers, helping to increase employee access and utilization of health and wellness services. Through this arrangement, employers will enjoy a complete, seamless, full-service acute care offering with the ease and convenience of services delivered by Concentra and Aetna.

“Their extensive experience in workplace solutions makes Concentra a valuable addition to the Aetna Health Connections Direct2You offerings,” said Dan Fishbein, M.D., head of New Product Businesses at Aetna. “Aetna and Concentra offer a unique opportunity to help employers enhance their existing employee benefit package by implementing worksite health options that are proven to improve the health of employees and lower the total cost of health care.”

Worksite health programs provide significant results for both employers and employees. Numerous studies conclude that implementation of worksite health programs helps improve both access to care and health program enrollment. As the health of the employee population improves, absenteeism decreases and productivity increases. According to the 2005 Chapman study, programs like the Aetna Health Connections Direct2You worksite health and wellness program, coupled with Concentra medical providers, are shown to yield an ROI of $5-6 per every $1 an employer invests into the program. The key to this model is the effectiveness of face-to-face engagement with employees desiring to improve their overall health and well-being.

“We welcome this opportunity to bring our worksite health solutions to patients through Aetna’s vast member network,” said Mike McCollum, Senior Vice President of Concentra Health Solutions. “The addition of Concentra’s expertise in workplace health care delivery to Aetna’s Direct2You program offers the ability to provide effective wellness programs in a high quality and consistent manner to employees, and is perfectly aligned with our mission of improving America’s health, one patient at a time.”

The new Aetna Health Connections Direct2You program, including Concentra’s worksite services, is available to all Aetna national account customers, regardless of product, platform, or funding. The program is available to Aetna members of the plan sponsor, as well as others that the plan sponsor defines as eligible. Plan sponsors will establish the physical infrastructure of the clinic at their location, with consultation provided by Concentra. Lead times for implementation vary, but average three to four months for completion. The effective date for a worksite clinic is determined by employers and does not have to be tied to health or benefit plan effective dates.

During the past 30 years Concentra has developed a reputation as the country’s leading provider of occupational health care by advancing the treatment of workplace injuries. Today, Concentra TotalCare presents a new option in employee health care by targeting the behaviors and issues that lead to poor health and chronic conditions; at the same time, it yields a cost-savings to employers. For more information about the Concentra TotalCare solution and to learn how this comprehensive new program could enhance an existing health benefits program, visit www.ConcentraTotalCare.com.