Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Barnabas Health, New Jersey's largest not-for-profit integrated healthcare delivery system, today announced a new contract agreement. Aetna members who receive care at any of the Barnabas Health hospitals and facilities will continue to be covered at the in-network level of benefits. The new, multi-year contract became effective on January 1.

"We are pleased to have a new agreement with Barnabas Health that maintains uninterrupted access to care at its integrated care system for our members," said Michael Costa, Aetna vice president, New Jersey Network. "We look forward to building on our solid working relationship and shared goals of excellent quality and affordable health care."

"Barnabas Health has provided high quality, compassionate care to Aetna members for many years and we look forward to continuing the relationship with Aetna," said Barry H. Ostrowsky, president and chief executive officer of Barnabas Health. "We are proud to offer nationally renowned services that are recognized with top rankings, awards and honors for outstanding clinical care."

The new agreement applies to all Aetna health plan products including student health plans and Medicare. Hospitals included in the agreement are:

  • Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J.;
  • Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, N.J.;
  • Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, N.J.;
  • Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J.;
  • Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood, N.J.;
  • Community Medical Center in Toms River, N.J.; and
  • Barnabas Health Behavioral Health Center in Toms River.

The agreement also includes covered outpatient services provided by Barnabas Health facilities including the System's highly advanced Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center in Livingston, N.J., and state-wide services of Barnabas Health Behavioral Health Network, as well as hospice, home care and infusion services.

Aetna serves approximately 1.2 million members in New Jersey.

About Barnabas Health

Barnabas Health provides treatment and services for more than two million patients each year: 198,000 inpatients and Same Day Surgery patients; 452,000 Emergency Department patients; and 1.5 million outpatients; and delivers more than 18,300 babies annually. Barnabas Health's 18,200 employees, 4,600 physicians and 445 residents and interns are united in our mission to deliver the highest quality of care in the best possible environment.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.3 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 and health information 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.

Media Contact:
Aetna
Susan Millerick, 860-673-0683
MillerickS@aetna.com
or
Media Contact:
Barnabas Health
Ellen Greene, 973-322-4018
egreene@barnabashealth.org