(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aetna (NYSE: AET) and WellStar Health System in Marietta, Ga., announced August 24 they have reached an agreement on a three-year contract renewal.
Under this new agreement, Aetna members will continue to receive covered services, at in-network rates, from WellStar facilities in the greater Atlanta area. Aetna members also will be able to continue receiving covered services from WellStar physicians.
“Aetna is happy to announce this renewal” said Ramzy Elgomayel, Aetna’s vice president of network management for the Atlanta area. “WellStar Health System has provided valued care and services to our commercial-plan members.”
"WellStar is pleased to reach a new three-year agreement with Aetna. We look forward to seamlessly continuing the long standing relationship that we have had with Aetna. As a not-for-profit organization, and one of the top integrated health systems in the country, WellStar is committed to meeting the ongoing health care needs of our community and will continue to invest in and deliver high quality health care services," said Barbara Corey, senior vice president of managed care.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sunday, August 09, 2009
New State-by-State Reports Show How Health Insurance Reform Will Benefit All Americans
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius August 7 released Stable and Secure Health Care for America, a series of new state-by-state reports outlining how health insurance reform will improve health care for all Americans. Sebelius announced the availability of the new reports as part of a
Webcast -- "Health Insurance Reform: What's In It For You?" -- where Sebelius and top HHS officials took questions from the American people and discussed the importance of health insurance reform. The new reports are available at www.HealthReform.gov.
"These reports show how health insurance reform will help Americans save money, get better care, strengthen their insurance if they already have it, and afford insurance if they don't," said Sebelius. "Every American will benefit when we pass health insurance reform."
The reports released today show reform will:
* Lower health care costs;
* Increase health care choices by protecting what works and fixing
what's broken; and
* Assure quality, affordable care for all Americans.
Friday's reports are the second in a series of state-by-state reports on health care across the country. Earlier this summer, Sebelius released The Health Care Status Quo in Your State, a series of state by state reports on the current state of health care in America. The reports are
available at http://www.healthreform.gov/healthcarestatus.html.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Webcast -- "Health Insurance Reform: What's In It For You?" -- where Sebelius and top HHS officials took questions from the American people and discussed the importance of health insurance reform. The new reports are available at www.HealthReform.gov.
"These reports show how health insurance reform will help Americans save money, get better care, strengthen their insurance if they already have it, and afford insurance if they don't," said Sebelius. "Every American will benefit when we pass health insurance reform."
The reports released today show reform will:
* Lower health care costs;
* Increase health care choices by protecting what works and fixing
what's broken; and
* Assure quality, affordable care for all Americans.
Friday's reports are the second in a series of state-by-state reports on health care across the country. Earlier this summer, Sebelius released The Health Care Status Quo in Your State, a series of state by state reports on the current state of health care in America. The reports are
available at http://www.healthreform.gov/healthcarestatus.html.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Monday, August 03, 2009
BCBSGA Announces Decision to Cover H1N1 Vaccine Administration
/PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA) announced today that it will offer coverage for the administration of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine when it becomes commercially available to the general public. The vaccine administration will be covered for members whose benefit plans provide coverage for vaccines.
BCBSGA will also continue coverage of seasonal flu vaccine administration for those whose health plans offer vaccine coverage. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that the H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines may be administered on the same day, according to the CDC.
The decision to cover the H1N1 vaccine administration is based on formal recommendations announced this week by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. ACIP recommended initial prioritization for those administering the vaccine for five key populations, including:
-- pregnant women,
-- people who live with or care for children younger than six months of
age,
-- health care and emergency services personnel,
-- children and young adults from 6 months old to 24 years old, and
-- people from 25 through 64 years old if they have chronic medical
conditions that increase their risk of complications from influenza
infection.
ACIP also provided guidance regarding high risk groups to be targeted in the event of a significant shortage of vaccine as well as recommendations for the rest of the general population if the supply of vaccine exceeds the needs of the target groups.
BCBSGA's immunization policy decisions are based on recommendations issued by ACIP and other nationally recognized organizations. ACIP is composed of 15 experts in fields associated with immunization who provide advice and guidance to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and CDC on the most effective means to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccine administration is covered for members whose benefit plans provide coverage for vaccines. Policyholders should confirm their specific benefits by calling the toll-free telephone number listed on their insurance card.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
BCBSGA will also continue coverage of seasonal flu vaccine administration for those whose health plans offer vaccine coverage. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that the H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines may be administered on the same day, according to the CDC.
The decision to cover the H1N1 vaccine administration is based on formal recommendations announced this week by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. ACIP recommended initial prioritization for those administering the vaccine for five key populations, including:
-- pregnant women,
-- people who live with or care for children younger than six months of
age,
-- health care and emergency services personnel,
-- children and young adults from 6 months old to 24 years old, and
-- people from 25 through 64 years old if they have chronic medical
conditions that increase their risk of complications from influenza
infection.
ACIP also provided guidance regarding high risk groups to be targeted in the event of a significant shortage of vaccine as well as recommendations for the rest of the general population if the supply of vaccine exceeds the needs of the target groups.
BCBSGA's immunization policy decisions are based on recommendations issued by ACIP and other nationally recognized organizations. ACIP is composed of 15 experts in fields associated with immunization who provide advice and guidance to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and CDC on the most effective means to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccine administration is covered for members whose benefit plans provide coverage for vaccines. Policyholders should confirm their specific benefits by calling the toll-free telephone number listed on their insurance card.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)