RICHMOND, Va. – Aetna (NYSE: AET) and VCU Health System today announced that they’ve signed a new contract that will result in an expansion of Aetna’s current Medicare Advantage network to include VCU Health System services. The company’s expanded relationship with the hospitals, clinics and physicians under the VCU Health System will allow Aetna Medicare Advantage members to access their services for in-network care.
“Aetna is excited to expand its long-term relationship with VCU Health System and provide our Medicare members in Virginia with access to VCU Medical Center and its more than 830 physicians,” said Mike Bucci, president of Aetna’s operations in Virginia. “Both organizations are dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of our members through exceptional, coordinated health care.”
“I am excited about our agreement with Aetna, which gives more patients the opportunity to be treated at VCU Health System,” said Deborah Davis, chief executive officer of VCU hospitals and clinics, VCU Health System. “Access to healthcare is the foundation for building healthier communities. Our collaboration with Aetna is one more example of our commitment to providing the highest-quality care to all Virginians.”
Aetna offers competitive Medicare Advantage products throughout Virginia. Starting Oct. 1, 2017, these products will now include covered inpatient and outpatient health care services at in-network rates from VCU Health System in Richmond and surrounding counties. The arrangement also extends Aetna’s contract with hospital-affiliated physicians.
VCU Health System includes the region’s only academic medical center, recording nearly 38,000 admissions and over 714,000 outpatient visits a year at its hospitals and clinics. Medical services are provided by MCV Physicians, a group practice of more than 830 physicians.
Patients can receive state-of-the-art care in more than 200 specialty areas, many of national and international note. This includes cancer treatment, cardiac care, kidney health, orthopedics, neurology and neurosurgery, urology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, as well as geriatrics.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 44.7 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, workers’ compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna’s 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.
Aetna Medicare is a PDP, HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Our dual-eligible Special Needs Plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the state and Medicare. Co-pays and co-insurance may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Other physicians/providers are available in our network. The provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Participating physicians, hospitals and other health care providers are independent contractors and are neither agents nor employees of Aetna. The availability of any particular provider cannot be guaranteed, and provider network composition is subject to change. See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area.
About VCU and VCU Health
Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students in 225 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Seventy-nine of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU’s 13 schools and one college. The VCU Health brand represents the health sciences schools of VCU, the VCU Massey Cancer Center and the VCU Health System, which comprises VCU Medical Center (the only academic medical center and Level I trauma center in the region), Community Memorial Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, MCV Physicians and Virginia Premier Health Plan. For more, please visit vcu.edu and vcuhealth.org.
Aetna Media Contact:
Sheridan Watson
212-457-0633
WatsonS1@aetna.com
VCU Health System Media Contact:
Laura Rossacher
804-827-1730
lrossacher@vcu.edu