Dignity Health, Aetna reach partnership agreement [Santa Cruz Sentinel, Calif.]

Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)

Apr. 26—SANTA CRUZ — Two health care industry juggernauts announced this week that they have reached a partnership agreement that will impact three western states and has special relevance for Santa Cruz County.

Dignity Health and health care insurance provider Aetna have struck a new, multiyear agreement that will allow Aetna members to maintain in-network access to Dignity Health services, facilities and providers in California, Arizona and Nevada, according to a Dignity release.

According to the release, the agreement is effective April 1, meaning health care services received by Aetna members since April 1 will be covered at the members' in-network benefit levels.

"This is a win for our patients who deserve access to local high-quality care," said President of Dignity Health Medical Foundation Robert Quinn in the release. "Our goal in working with Aetna has always been about ensuring we can meet the needs of our patients today and in the future. This agreement ensures we can continue to provide value-driven care for Aetna members."

Dignity Health owns and operates Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, which is part of a network of 10,000 physicians, 41 acute care hospitals and more than 400 care centers across California, Nevada and Arizona, according to the release. Dignity's parent company is CommonSpirit Health, which delivers a similar network of health care services on a national level.

Last month, Dignity announced it had reached a three-year contract renewal with Central California Alliance for Health, a nonprofit health plan. The agreement was meant to ensure the alliance's almost 500,000 members in five regional counties, including Santa Cruz, continue to have access to Dignity Health hospitals and physicians through 2026.

Aetna is a health insurance provider that offers medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, among many more. It serves an estimated 34 million people, according to the release, and is owned by CVS Health.

"We are committed to serving Aetna members with access to quality, convenient, affordable care through our network of providers," said Cathy Hughes, Aetna vice president and chief network officer for the Western and South Central region, in the release. "We are pleased to reach an agreement with Dignity Health that enables us to continue working together to meet the health care needs of our members."

Aetan members can call the number on their Aetna member card for more information about how the partnership impacts them.

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