Dignity Health, Aetna reach contract agreement — restoring access for SLO County patients
After nearly a month without in-network coverage, Dignity Health and Aetna have reached an agreement that will restore full patient access to one of San Luis Obispo County’s largest hospital providers.
According to a news release Friday, the two companies have reached an agreement on “a new, multi-year contract that allows Aetna members to maintain in-network access to Dignity Health services, facilities and providers in Arizona, California and Nevada.”
The contract is backdated to April 1, meaning all services received by Aetna members since coverage lapsed amid their ongoing contract dispute in early April will now be covered at patients’ in-network benefit levels, the release said.
“This is a win for our patients who deserve access to local high-quality care,” Dignity Health Medical Foundation President Robert Quinn said 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.”
The two companies first notified customers of potential changes in February, warning that without a new agreement, “Aetna will no longer include Dignity Health hospitals, physicians, ambulatory surgery centers and other providers as in-network.”
Dignity Health owns roughly 30 hospitals throughout California, spanning the entire state, as well as a number of medical clinics and groups.
It has locations in Northern, Central and Southern California; the Sacramento area; and the Bay Area, according to its website. That includes three local hospitals: French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria.
Dignity also operates Pacific Central Coast Health Centers, a clinic organization comprised of nearly 50 health centers located from Templeton to Lompoc, according to its website.
It’s unclear how many clients Aetna has in San Luis Obispo County.
Cathy Hughes, Aetna’s vice president and chief network officer for the Western and South Central region, said in the release that the company is “committed to serving Aetna members with access to quality, convenient, affordable care through our network of providers.
“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,” she said.
Aetna members can call the number on their Aetna member card for more information.
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