UPMC Joins Aetna’s Network for Medicare Advantage Groups

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aetna (NYSE: AET) and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) announced today that they have signed an agreement that expands access to UPMC facilities and physicians for members of Aetna’s group Medicare Advantage plans.

“Our commercial members have benefited from having access to UPMC’s hospital and doctors. We’re pleased that our group Medicare Advantage customers will be able to do the same.”

Under the agreement, which took effect Jan. 1, members of Aetna’s group Medicare Advantage plans can receive covered services, at in-network rates, from the entire network of UPMC’s hospitals and providers in Western Pennsylvania. Aetna and UPMC signed a contract in 2011 that covered Aetna’s commercial members.

"Aetna is very happy to expand its relationship with UPMC to include members of our group Medicare Advantage plans,” said Patrick Young, president of Aetna’s Pennsylvania and Delaware operations. “Our commercial members have benefited from having access to UPMC’s hospital and doctors. We’re pleased that our group Medicare Advantage customers will be able to do the same.”

“As the preferred health care provider for people throughout western Pennsylvania, UPMC is pleased that more Aetna members will be able to enjoy access to the highest-quality, most cost-effective, patient-focused health care that’s available,” said Joseph T. Chuba, vice president, payor contract services, UPMC. “This agreement with Aetna is another clear demonstration of the benefits we see resulting from a more competitive health insurance marketplace in this region.”

Aetna provides health benefits to approximately 114,000 members in Western Pennsylvania. Those members have access to a contracted network that includes 72 hospitals and more than 14,000 primary care and specialist physicians.

About UPMC

UPMC is a $10 billion global health enterprise with more than 55,000 employees headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., and is transforming health care by integrating more than 20 hospitals, 400 doctors’ offices and outpatient sites, a health insurance services division, and international and commercial services. Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC ranked No. 10 in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report annual Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals in 2012—and No. 1 in Pennsylvania—with 15 adult specialty areas ranked for excellence. UPMC is redefining health care by using innovative science, technology and medicine to invent new models of accountable, cost-efficient and patient-centered care. For more information, go to UPMC.com.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.3 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services and health information technology services. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.