Aetna Shines in New Jersey HMO Performance Report
Plan scores above average in all measurements
TRENTON, NJ, November 26, 2002 — Aetna's (NYSE: ΑET) HMO and Quality Point of Service® plans earned high marks in the annual New Jersey HMO Performance Report, which was issued by the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
Aetna scored above the New Jersey average in the 24 measurements more times than any other plan, improving on an already impressive ranking in the 2001 report.
"Aetna is delighted to have once again performed so well in the HMO Performance Report," said Dr. Patricia Mueller, Aetna's Mid-Atlantic regional medical director. "But we realize that quality improvement is an ongoing process. We're committed to continuing our work to improve access to quality health care and services for all of our New Jersey customers."
Highlights of Aetna's ranking in this year's report include:
- A "Service and Access" score that was above the state average in all four measures, including 15 percent above average in handling claims correctly and in a reasonable time;
- Scores in the top tier in two of the four measures listed under "Staying Healthy." This is a reflection of Aetna's focused women's health initiatives, and strong focus on childhood immunization, Dr. Mueller said. The Aetna Navigator website has also proven to be a powerful on-line tool;
- An 8 percent increase from 2001 in assuring that children with asthma receive the correct therapy. Aetna's asthma management program has improved patient satisfaction and decreased hospital visits, Dr. Mueller said;
- The highest score among New Jersey HMOs in assuring that patients with mental illness receive appropriate and timely care after a hospitalization;
- The highest score among all plans in the percentage of members with controlled high blood pressure;
- The highest score among all plans in female members being tested for cervical cancer. This is a clear result of Aetna's targeted outreach efforts to women age 18 to 64, Dr. Mueller noted.
"Quality of care is extremely important to both health care consumers and the employers who purchase health insurance for their workers," said Dr. Mueller. "Aetna is very proud of its success, but equally intent on doing even better next year."
In addition to areas measured in the New Jersey Performance Report, Aetna also has instituted a number of patient safety initiatives, and has participated in the Leapfrog Group initiative, which aims to reduce medical errors. Through its U.S. Quality Algorithms subsidiary, Aetna also has made available reports that measure the performance of primary care physicians, specialists and hospitals who provide services to Aetna members.
Aetna (NYSE: ΑET) is one of the nation's leading providers of health care and related group benefits, serving approximately 13.9 million medical members, 11.9 million dental members and 11.7 million group insurance customers, as of September 30, 2002. The company has expansive nationwide networks of more than 539,000 health care services providers, including over 327,000 primary care and specialist physicians and 3,300 hospitals. For more information about Aetna, please visit the company's web
site at www.aetna.com.
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