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RALEIGH, N.C.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced that it has reached agreement on a three-year contract extension with WakeMed Health & Hospitals. The agreement takes effect May 1.

"aItas reassuring to know WakeMed will be there tocontinue to serve our members."

Aetna members will continue to receive covered health benefits, at in-network rates, from WakeMedas numerous hospitals, outpatient facilities and affiliated physicians.

aAetna is very pleased to announce the extension of our relationship with WakeMed,a said Margie Maxwell, president of Aetnaas North Carolina market. aaItas reassuring to know WakeMed will be there tocontinue to serve our members.a

aWe are pleased to continue working with Aetna to ensure adults and children throughout the community have access to the unique and specialized services offered at WakeMed,a said Mike DeVaughn, executivevice president, finance and chief financial officer. aFor more than 50 years, WakeMed has upheld our important mission of providing outstanding and compassionate care to all who seek our services, and we recognize that the residents of this region rely on us to assist with health care for themselves and their families. The extension of our contract with Aetna helps ensure the communityas ability to access WakeMed's services as an in-network provider."

WakeMed offers many services that are not available anywhere else in Wake County, including the stateas first freestanding childrenas emergency department; a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; neuro intensive care; a comprehensive rehabilitation hospital; and a childrenas hospital complete with a pediatric intensive care unit. The WakeMed Raleigh campus is also home to the countyas only Level I trauma center, one of only six in the state; and the stateas busiest heart center.

Aetna provides health benefits to about 300,000 members in North Carolina. Those members have access to a network that includes more than 118 contracted hospitals and more than 16,381 primary care and specialist physicians.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.4 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, medical management capabilities, health care management services for Medicaid plans and health information exchange 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 ].