Aetna Introduces Powerful, Interactive Personal Health Record

Business Wire, Oct 3, 2006

Powered by ActiveHealth's Patented CareEngine([R]) System, Aetna's Personal Health Record provides personalized alerts to members and physicians about opportunities to improve care

CareEngine System-powered Personal Health Record pilot available February 2007 provides personalized alerts and interactive functions; all Aetna subscribers to receive an online Health History Report in January 2007

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Aetna (NYSE:AET) today announced the launch of its new CareEngine([R])System-powered Personal Health Record (PHR) that provides members with online access to personal information, including individual personalized messages and alerts, detailed health history, and integrated information and resources to help members make informed decisions about their health care.

Aetna's PHR is the first to utilize the CareEngine System, which is a proprietary technology platform developed by ActiveHealth Management, a branded, standalone business of Aetna. CareEngine continuously scans an individual's health data and claims information against highly respected sources of medical literature, and alerts consumers and doctors about possible urgent situations and opportunities to improve care. The CareEngine-powered PHR automatically combines detailed, claims-driven information gathered across the health care spectrum - such as physician office, lab, diagnostic treatment and prescriptions - to generate a comprehensive personal health record. This information is processed by CareEngine to generate personalized health care alerts and messages that are delivered directly to the member.

"Aetna is working to personalize and simplify how members navigate the health care system, and this personal health record is a major step forward in that effort," said Mark Bertolini, Executive Vice President, Aetna. "The PHR will provide members with secure, reliable and current information that they can share with their doctors so that together they can make the best informed decisions about their health care needs."

Aetna's PHR allows consumers to add personal information about their health history, such as a specific disease or condition in the family, or whether they take over-the-counter medications. As consumers add more personal health information to enhance their PHR, CareEngine evaluates this additional information for opportunities to improve care for themselves and their families.

"Claims-based PHRs, personalized by members, can greatly increase patient safety and improve health care quality," said Troyen A. Brennan, Aetna's Chief Medical Officer. "The CareEngine technology will scan information from claims and self-reported information to find opportunities where evidence-based care may have been missed, and show areas for improvement. Ultimately, this new tool will allow physicians to benefit from improved information about each patient, and members and doctors can share that information to make the best decisions concerning their health care."

The Aetna PHR is the latest addition to Aetna's award-winning disease management programs and online consumer tools that integrate and provide access to health information. Earlier this year, Aetna unveiled Aetna Health Connections(SM), the company's new portfolio of medical management programs that provide information and health counseling to help each member achieve optimal health regardless of life stage or health status. The CareEngine technology is the backbone of the Aetna Health Connections portfolio and the PHR, providing an important link between the medical management programs and online member resources. The company continues to refine a full suite of consumer tools that include the nationally recognized transparency initiative to provide consumers with detailed information about doctor and procedure costs, as well as the company's expanding wellness offerings (Simple Steps To A Healthier Life[R]) and health care information site, Aetna InteliHealth[R]. These interactive tools are integrated by the CareEngine-powered PHR to provide a seamless online resource for members.

Beginning in January 2007, all Aetna subscribers will have access to a basic Health History Report automatically populated by each member's Aetna claim activity. The Health History Report can be easily printed and shared so members can better coordinate care across multiple health care providers. The CareEngine-powered PHR will be available to a select group of large customers, including United Parcel Service of America (UPS), beginning in February 2007. Those employers are interested in testing this innovation and will be asked to provide feedback to further refine Aetna's CareEngine-powered PHR, which will then be made available to additional employers in July 2007 and can be offered to entire employee populations regardless of health care provider.

Developed with Consumer & Physician Input

Aetna's PHR is the result of comprehensive industry-wide research and conducting extensive work with focus groups of both consumers and physicians. It is anticipated that consumers will share the information from their PHR with their physicians so that members and doctors have the full range of information from which to base their decisions. Importantly, the PHR automatically maintains the individual's information - thereby simplifying record keeping for the member and his or her family. The information contained in the PHR is portable.