Aetna Health Insurance Now Accepted

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Oct. 8, 2007) – Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and Aetna have reached agreement under which LVHN hospitals, primary care and specialist physicians and other health care providers will participate in the Aetna network, effective Dec. 1, 2007.

Under the agreement, Aetna subscribers will have in-network access to all LVHN locations including: Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and I-78, Lehigh Valley Hospital-17th and Chew, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg and the 360-member Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG). Physicians who are on staff at the LVHN hospitals but not members of LVPG also will be given the opportunity to participate during an enrollment period that runs through late October.

"This agreement gives Aetna's 50,000 members in our community access to LVHN services," said Elliot J. Sussman, M.D., LVHN's president and CEO. "At the end of the day, it is about providing our community with greater access to high quality and safe care."

Sussman said the demand for care continues to grow and that makes the timing of the partnership with Aetna even more critical for the community. He said bed use at LVHN grew by about 2,000 over the past year to more than 54,000 inpatients. Emergency department visits increased to more than 129,400, up 10,000 compared to the previous year.

"Our new seven-story Kasych Family Pavilion patient tower will open at the start of the new year and that will ensure greater access to better meet that demand, not only for those who subscribe to Aetna, but for our entire community," Sussman said.

Sussman said Aetna subscribers in the Lehigh Valley can contact their physician beginning Nov. 1, once physician credentialing has been completed, to determine if he or she is part of the Aetna network.

"Aetna is delighted that we've reached an agreement with Lehigh Valley Health Network," said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D. Aetna's chief medical officer. "This is great news for our current members and for the employers in the community who are anxious to have choices in their health plans. LVHN is ranked as one of America's best hospitals by US News and World Report and the Leapfrog Group, is a FORTUNE 100 Best Company and a Magnet hospital. There are only 8 to 10 hospitals across the country that meet those standards. This is a great opportunity to work with a nationally respected institution that is completely committed to delivering the highest quality health care to its community."

LVHN was last part of the Aetna network in 2004, when a previous agreement with Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg expired and was not renewed. The LVH sites at Cedar Crest and 17th Street have not been part of the Aetna network since 2001.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is based in Allentown and Bethlehem, Pa., Lehigh Valley Health Network comprises Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest & I-78, Lehigh Valley Hospital – 17th & Chew, Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg and Lehigh Valley Health Services, which includes home health, hospice, pharmacy and health management. Advanced regional resources at these non-profit hospitals include a Level I Trauma Center with added pediatric qualifications as well as burn, kidney and pancreas transplant, perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer care, neurology and complex neurosurgery. Among many national awards LVHN has recently been redesignated a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing.

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 29.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com

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