Aetna, Community Healthcare System fails to reach agreement
Aetna and the Community Healthcare System have not reached a new settlement that could affect patients throughout Northwest Indiana.
The health system will no longer accept Aetna insurance as an in-network provider from January 15 if no agreement is reached.
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Aetna is one of the largest health insurance providers in the United States by market share. The change would affect all hospitals and facilities in the Community Healthcare System. It operates Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, Community Stroke & Rehabilitation Center at Crown Point, Community Care Network Inc., Hartsfield Village, Community Home Care and St .Mary Home Care.
“The Community Healthcare System is currently in negotiations with Aetna to resolve our differences but has not come to an agreement,” said Kevin Mybeck, vice president of managed care at Community Healthcare System. “If we cannot reach an agreement, Aetna patients will be removed from the network starting January 15, 2023.”
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Aetna spokeswoman Sarah Ericksen said both sides are continuing to work on a new agreement.
“Aetna is dedicated to providing our members with access to affordable care that is local, convenient and contributes to better health,” she said. “We value Community Healthcare System as a long-standing partner in this effort and hope that our active negotiations will result in a seamless contract renewal that is satisfactory to all.”
End of contract would affect Aetna Commercial plans such as Aetna Open Choice PPO, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Aetna HMO, Aetna QPOS, Aetna Affordable Health Choices, Aetna Select, Aetna Voluntary Plans, Aetna Open Access Plans and Aetna Premier Care Network Plans.
It would also affect Aetna Medicare Advantage plans such as Aetna Medicare Prime, Aetna Medicare Value, Aetna Medicare Eagle and Aetna Medicare Premier.
Patients who are being cared for by physicians or public health care providers before their contract expires in the next month will likely be offered the opportunity to complete medical care for at least some period after their contract expires. The Community Healthcare System encourages all patients with questions about continuing their treatment to contact Aetna by calling the number listed on the back of their health insurance card.
