Aetna's Cofinity Introduces National Transplant Network

Business Wire, Oct 18, 2007

-- Aetna Institutes of Excellence Network Now Available to Other Group Health Payers--

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Cofinity(SM) -- the division of Aetna (NYSE:AET) that provides health related services and products to other insurance companies, third-party administrators, health plans and other customers -- today announced the introduction of the Cofinity(SM) Institutes of Excellence(TM) national transplant network. The Cofinity Institutes of Excellence (IOE) network is currently a sub-set of the Aetna Institutes of Excellence transplant network and is being expanded further to be one of the most comprehensive transplant networks in the nation.

The IOE transplant program had previously been available only to customers who purchased Aetna administered benefits. Now, the Cofinity introduction furthers the business unit's strategy to provide best-in-class, health related services and products that enhance and complement the services provided by other insurance companies, third party administrators and health plans.

"Introducing the Cofinity transplant program expands distribution of existing Aetna capabilities to other health plans," said Dan Fishbein, M.D., president of Cofinity. "The roll-out of our Institutes of Excellence network brings an important new choice to health plans and other entities in the transplant network arena," he said.

The Cofinity IOE network includes facilities that manage heart, lung, heart/lung, kidney, liver, pancreas, simultaneous kidney/pancreas, small bowel/intestinal, bone marrow and stem cell transplants. All of the facilities have met quality, volume and outcomes standards through Aetna's credentialing process and external quality guidelines, such as those established by organizations such as Medicare and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

In addition to providing a competitive network, the Cofinity IOE transplant program includes consultative case management support by registered nurse consultants with sophisticated expertise, who work with health plan case managers to identify transplant patients early on and provide case consultation through all phases of transplant. The Cofinity IOE network is also supported by a dedicated transplant team that includes a full-time medical director, customer service, claims repricing, contracting and account management.

"It's great to see Cofinity enter the marketplace with a standalone national transplant network offering," said Robert Ziomek, Principal, Axia Strategies, a managed care consulting firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "The Cofinity offering provides extensive national access coupled with significant cost containment advantages. Having another option in the market that secures competitive negotiated rates for its customers will help create savings for health plan customers and their members," Ziomek added.

According to Dr. Fishbein, "The Cofinity IOE transplant program leverages Aetna's expertise in developing the highly successful Institutes of Excellence program, and we are proud to work with some of the best organ transplant facilities in the United States." He added, "Through this transplant program, we are pleased to further our mission of expanding access to quality care for more Americans."

Information on the Cofinity transplant network can be accessed under the "health plan services" section of www.cofinity.net.

About Cofinity:

Cofinity offers access to provider networks, medical management services and other health care programs to customers outside Aetna's core distribution channels. Cofinity is the new brand name for many businesses that have been created, acquired or expanded over the past three years by Aetna, such as HMS Healthcare, PPOM, Sloans Lake, Flora Health Networks and Aetna Health Plan Services. In addition to the national transplant network, products being offered through the Cofinity brand include PPO provider networks in six states, dental network access, stop loss insurance coverage, credentialing, medical management programs, out-of-network claims management, and fraud and abuse detection services. Cofinity currently serves 2.5 million members at 200 health plans and insurance companies via these products. www.cofinity.net.

About Aetna:

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 34.9 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, long-term care 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 and government-sponsored plans in both the U.S. and internationally. www.aetna.com