Aetna Signs Contract with Mississippi Health Partners

JACKSON, Miss. , April 08, 2009 — Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today that it has signed a multi-year agreement with Mississippi Health Partners that adds three new hospitals to the Aetna network in the Jackson, Miss. area.  Under the new contract, members of Aetna's network-based plans will be able to receive covered benefits, at in-network rates, from St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital and Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, both in Jackson; and King's Daughters Hospital in Yazoo City.  The contract took effect April 1.

It is the first time any of these facilities has been part of Aetna's network of contracted hospitals in the state.

"Aetna is excited to announce this agreement," said Greg Parrish, Aetna's network market head for Mississippi.   "The addition of these three facilities should greatly enhance our ability to grow membership in Mississippi."

"This new agreement once again reflects our ability to provide the highest level of health care through our unsurpassed network of hospitals and physicians," said Jim Fuzy, president and CEO of Mississippi Health Partners.  "We look forward to a productive and beneficial relationship with Aetna in the years to come."

About Mississippi Health Partners
Mississippi Health Partners is one of Mississippi's leading managed care organizations, committed to providing access to quality healthcare at lower costs for employers and their employees. Mississippi Health Partners is owned and managed by hospitals and physicians in Central Mississippi. Our concern for quality care and convenient access is part of every decision we make. Mississippi Health Partners was established in 1993 when two of Mississippi's leading medical centers, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center and St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital, and their medical staffs, began the organization in an attempt to respond to community need.  Mississippi Health Partners, a physician hospital organization, currently has managed care contracts covering more than 122,000 lives.

Aetna provides health benefits to approximately 72,000 members in Mississippi.  Those members have access to a network that includes 51 contracted hospitals, 931 primary care physicians and 1629 specialists.

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.5 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, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates.  For more information, see www.aetna.com.