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Aetna Signs Agreement with Lehigh Valley Health Network

^{Published on 2011-01-26 11:55:32 - Market Wire}
 

ALLENTOWN, Pa.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced that it has reached agreement on a new four-year contract for Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) with Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital Inc., DBA Valley Preferred. Under the agreement, the Lehigh Valley Hospital facilities in Allentown and Bethlehem will continue to provide covered benefits, at in-network rates, to Aetna members in the Lehigh Valley area.

"Aetna is very pleased to reach agreement on a contract that extends our affiliation with Lehigh Valley Health Network for an additional four years"

Members also will have access to the more than 500 members of the Lehigh Valley Physician Group.

aAetna is very pleased to reach agreement on a contract that extends our affiliation with Lehigh Valley Health Network for an additional four years,a said Robert Kleman, vice president of network operations for Aetnaa™s Southeastern Pennsylvania market. aThe hospital occupies a prominent health care delivery position in the Lehigh Valley. Wea™re hopeful our continued relationship will aid Aetnaa™s efforts to grow membership in the area.a

aValley Preferred is delighted to extend contractual terms through Lehigh Valley Health Network with Aetna,a said Dr. Jack Lenhart, executive director of Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital Inc., DBA Valley Preferred. aWe also are encouraged by a shared interest to grow membership in a manner that strengthens our relationship and enhances the value of improving outcomes and the health status of the population we serve.a

Aetna provides health benefits to more than 1 million people in Pennsylvania. In Southeast Pennsylvania, members have access to a network that includes 67 contracted hospitals and more than 18,000 primary care physicians and specialists.

About Valley Preferred

Valley Preferred is Pennsylvaniaa™s leading provider-owned, preferred provider organization. Valley Preferred is dedicated to connecting local businesses and individuals with quality health care coverage, while also providing valuable clinical knowledge, practices and services to enhance personal health. Valley Preferreda™s corporate philosophy is reflected in its performance promise of aCare Beyond the Coverage.a We work closely with members, their doctors and contracted health insurance companies to deliver better health care above and beyond the policy level. Through BeneFIT, Valley Preferreda™s suite of custom health education and wellness programs, Valley Preferred promotes healthier lifestyles for company employees and a culture of wellness in the workplace. This includes providing a wellness assessment; health workshops and seminars; tobacco cessation resources; corporate health fairs and screenings; and disease management programs. For more information, visit [ www.valleypreferred.com ].

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nationa™s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 35.4 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 and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see [ www.aetna.com ]. To learn more about Aetna's innovative onlinetools, visit [ www.aetnatools.com ].