Aetna Reaches Contract Agreement with Bensalem EMS.BLUE BELL, Pa. -- Aetna (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : AET AET Aetna, Inc. AET After Extra Time AET Actual Evapotranspiration AET Alliance for Environmental Technology AET Alpha-Ethyltryptamine AET Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc. ) announced today it has reached agreement with Bensalem Emergency Medical Services An Emergency medical service (abbreviated to initialism "EMS" in many countries) is a service providing out-of-hospital acute care and transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient believes constitutes a medical emergency. (EMS) on a five-year contract to provide emergency 911 services to Aetna members in suburban Philadelphia. "This is an important development for Aetna members," said Mike Ungvary, Aetna's head of network operations in Pennsylvania. "Most EMS providers do not belong to managed care networks, but we were able to engage in a constructive dialogue with Bensalem and reach a long-term agreement. We're hopeful we'll be able to reach similar arrangements with other providers in the area." Bensalem EMS is one of the largest ambulance services providers in Bucks County. The agency responds to nearly 6,000 emergencies each year. Bensalem EMS consists of a combination staff of both career and volunteer personnel. Although the ambulance service is supported by tax dollars, nearly 80 percent of its operating budget Noun 1. operating budget - a budget for current expenses as distinct from financial transactions or permanent improvements budget items, operating cost, operating expense, overhead - the expense of maintaining property (e.g. comes from billing for ambulance trips to the hospital. "This contract is a win for everybody," Thomas Topley, Executive Director of Bensalem EMS said. "We were concerned Aetna would not be receptive receptive /re·cep·tive/ (re-cep´tiv) capable of receiving or of responding to a stimulus. to our needs going into the contract talks. We were very honest with the insurance company and they were very receptive to our needs. "The rescue squad
“Rescue squad” redirects here. For other uses, see Rescue squad (disambiguation). now can budget its funds better over the next five years, while Aetna can control its cost of service in Lower Bucks County." Topley said he hopes this agreement will be a model for other service providers to join Aetna's provider network. Aetna provides and administers health benefits to more than 850,000 members in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Those members have access to a contracted network of 69 hospitals, 3,798 primary care physicians and 13,297 specialists. 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 and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health Behavioral health was first used in the 1980's to name the combination of the fields mental health and substance abuse. As an example, an organization serving both mental health and substance abuse clients might refer to its practice as behavioral health or , group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Aetna's customers include employer groups employer group Association of employers Managed care An entity with a current group benefits agreement in effect with a health plan to provide covered health care services to its employee-subscribers and eligible dependents. , individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. www.aetna.com |
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