BRIDGEPORT, Conn., March 31, 2005 – Aetna (NYSE:AET) and St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport announced today that they have reached an agreement that will restore Aetna members' access to services at St. Vincent's Medical Center on an in-network basis effective April 1, 2005. Aetna members who use network hospitals and physicians can reduce out-of-pocket spending on co-payments and co-insurance and maximize their health benefit dollars.
“St. Vincent's values its relationship with Aetna and we are very pleased that based upon the strength of this relationship, we were able to reach agreement and once again be a participating provider in the Aetna network,” said Susan Davis, RN, Ed.D., President/CEO of St. Vincent's Health Services. “Area residents will welcome this option and they will be well served by the agreement."
“The inclusion of St. Vincent's Medical Center allows Aetna to deliver a network of the broadest scope and breadth to our consumers and employers in Bridgeport,” said Michael E. Morris, head of Aetna's New England network. “It also fortifies our local presence in Fairfield County, a goal of great importance to us. As the only major health insurer headquartered in Connecticut, we want to put our best foot forward in our home state by offering the widest choice of network, paired with the most innovative and consumer-focused selection of health benefit plans.”
As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, Aetna puts information and helpful resources to work for its approximately 13.7 million medical members, 11.9 million dental members, 8.4 million pharmacy members and 13.5 million group insurance members to help them make better informed decisions about their health care and protect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provides easy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide network of more than 655,000 health care professionals, including over 390,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 3,937 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (gures as of December 31, 2004)
St. Vincent's Medical Center is a 397-bed community teaching hospital. It is a member of Ascension Health, the national health system formed by the Daughters of Charity and the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the nation's largest Catholic healthcare system. St. Vincent's is clinically affiliated with New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and is a teaching affiliate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and of New York Medical College. St. Vincent's provides a full range of inpatient and ambulatory services including comprehensive programs in Cardiology, Oncology, Orthopaedics, Women's and Family Health Services, Behavioral Health, Senior Health and an array of specialized services.
Media Contacts:
Aetna
Wendy Morphew
(914) 251-8624
MorphewWS@aetna.com
St. Vincent's Medical Center
Lucinda I. Ames
(203) 576-5550
lames@stvincents.org
