Aetna Institutes^TM is a program that offers access to networks of high-performing hospitals, clinics and health care facilities that offer specialized care. These programs focus on bariatric, cardiac and orthopedic surgeries. They also provide transplant support, infertility treatment and gene-based, cellular and other innovative therapy (“GCIT™”) services.

Our members look for the Aetna Institutes name. They know they’ll get high-quality care at a reasonable cost. There are three types of Aetna Institutes programs and networks.

1.       Institutes of Excellence™

2.      Institutes of Quality®

3.      GCIT Designated Networks

Institutes of Excellence

Aetna Institutes of Excellence providers help patients who are facing a transplant or going through treatment for infertility. To be an Institute of Excellence, a health care facility must meet certain quality criteria. These include:

• Number of procedures
• Success rates
• Cost-effective care
• How often patients return to the hospital
• Rates of complications

Program criteria for transplant support

Program criteria for infertility clinics

Institutes of Quality

Aetna Institutes of Quality provide bariatric, cardiac and orthopedic procedures. We select hospitals that meet certain standards of quality and cost efficiency. We measure many factors, such as:

• Number of procedures
• Success rates
• Cost-effective care
• How often patients return to the hospital
• Rates of complication

Program criteria for bariatric surgery

Program criteria for cardiac care

Program criteria for orthopedic care

GCIT Designated Networks

The Aetna Institutes program also helps patients who have been diagnosed with certain genetic conditions that may be treated with the use of innovative FDA-approved GCIT products. To be part of this network, a health care facility must:

• Typically, be approved by the GCIT product manufacturer
• Meet cost-effective criteria

Program criteria for GCIT network consideration