Aetna Expands Availability Of RelayHealth‘s Secure Online Messaging And Consultations Nationwide, Includes Specialists
Participating health care providers - including specialty physicians - offer patients the ability to communicate and manage their health online
HARTFORD, Conn., Dec. 19, 2007 — Aetna (NYSE: ΑET) and RelayHealth, leaders in electronic health care solutions, announced today that Aetna has significantly expanded the reach of its online communications services. Members and physicians, now including physicians in more than 30 medical specialty categories, participating in most of Aetna’s medical plans nationwide, will have access to RelayHealth’s webVisit® consultations. These clinically structured online interviews offer patients a convenient, affordable and efficient way to report non-urgent symptoms. Physicians, in turn, can deliver timely, informed responses.
This marks the latest development in Aetna’s plans to broaden the accessibility of reimbursable online consultations and other secure messaging services through RelayHealth’s intelligent network. These services include appointment requests, referrals, lab and test results, and prescriptions and medication refills. Since 2006, members and primary care physicians (including pediatricians and obstetricians/gynecologists) in California, Florida and most recently Washington have had access to the online service sponsored by Aetna. Now Aetna will also provide reimbursement for webVisit consultations to physicians in more than 30 specialties, including allergy and immunology, neurology, cardiology, cardiovascular disease, oncology, dermatology, otolaryngology, endocrinology, psychiatry, psychology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, reproductive endocrinology, and rheumatology.
"Aetna is committed to leveraging technology to make it easier for physicians to do business, facilitate communications between physicians and their patients, and help improve patient safety," Paul Marchetti, head, National Networks and Contracting Services, Aetna. "Physician-patient online communications are fueling patient participation and empowerment, as patients become more savvy health care consumers. For many doctors, the ability to discuss non-emergency conditions online with their patients can save time and money. Doctors may find that online, structured communication helps them determine key patient information quickly and decrease misinterpretations caused by language barriers. It also may provide a more accurate record."
Coverage for RelayHealth online visits will be available to most fully insured plan members. Self-insured plan sponsors may choose to participate.
"RelayHealth gives patients efficient online communications with our office for appointments, referrals, medication renewals, medical information and questions concerning their care 24 hours a day," said Roy A. Greenberg, M.D., of Hill Physicians Medical Group, Folsom, Calif. "Access is easily utilized from any computer whether at home or work. Patients being held hostage by the phone and office hours are a thing of the past. We strongly feel RelayHealth provides superior service and care, providing a very positive experience for both our 3,000-plus registered patient users and staff."
According to a first quarter 2007 Manhattan Research Taking the Pulse® v7.0 study of 1,353 physicians, the trend of physicians communicating online with patients has grown since 2003 from 19 to 31 percent. Among physicians who have not yet used an online secure messaging service, 24 percent intend to start using one in the next 12 months. Among the physicians who communicate with patients online, the most popular activities include answering clinical questions, discussing symptoms and treatment options, and determining whether an office visit is necessary.
"The expansion of the RelayHealth physician-patient online service brings Aetna’s members closer to realizing a truly connected health care environment that ultimately improves member satisfaction while optimizing efficiency," said Jim Bodenbender, senior vice president and general manager at RelayHealth. "We are excited to partner with Aetna in this initiative and look forward to working with them as they track improvements in quality, physician and member satisfaction, and reductions in cost."
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.4 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, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, government-sponsored plans and expatriates. www.aetna.com
About RelayHealth
RelayHealth, the connectivity business of McKesson Corporation, operates as a neutral partner in an open network environment, offering connectivity and integration among all organizations, systems, and solutions. Its intelligent network is designed to streamline clinical, financial and administrative communication between patients, providers, payors, pharmacies and financial institutions. RelayHealth works to accelerate the delivery of high-quality care and improve financial performance through solutions such as online consultation of physicians by patients, electronic prescribing, point-of-service pharmacy claims resolution by payors, pre-visit patient financial clearance by providers, and post-visit provider bill settlement by payors and patients. RelayHealth securely processes more than 10 billion financial and clinical transactions annually. For more information, call (800) 778-6711, or visit our Web site at www.RelayHealth.com
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