Aetna - Changes in Managed Care

AETNA U.S. HEALTHCARE
Managed Care - Provider Changes

Aetna U.S. Healthcare has been informed by Provider Network of America (ProNet) that 133 physicians who have admitting privileges solely at Columbia Trident Regional Medical Center have terminated their relationship with ProNet, effective February 12, 1999. Consequently, these 133 physicians are no longer participating in the Elect Choice, Managed Choice or Open Choice networks.

There are 46 primary care physicians of the 133 physicians who are considered non-participating. Members in Elect Choice and Managed Choice plans who have chosen one of these PCPs will need to select another participating PCP in order to continue to receive the plan's highest level of benefits.

In May 1998 Baptist Centra Care, an association of 15 urgent care centers in Tennessee, split off into two entities: Centra Care and Baptist Centra Care. The nine facilities that formed the new Baptist Centra Care do not participate in the Aetna U.S. Healthcare managed care network. The following six facilities that compose Centra Care do participate: Rivergate in Madison, Tenn.; White Bridge in Nashville, Tenn.; Hermitage in Hermitage, Tenn.; Hendersonville in Hendersonville, Tenn.; Smyrna in Smyrna, Tenn., and Mt. Juliet in Mt. Juliet, Tenn.

Effective March 31, 1999, St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth, N.J., will not be a participating provider in Aetna U.S. Healthcare's Northern New Jersey non-HMO managed care network. Alternative care facilities include Elizabeth General Medical Center in Elizabeth, N.J.; Union Hospital, Union, N.J.; Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, St. Michael's Medical Center, St. James Hospital or University Hospital in Newark, N.J., or Columbus Hospital in Bloomfield, Conn.

Six primary care physicians have notified Aetna U.S. Healthcare of their intent to terminate their participating in the company's network in Louisville, Ky. Effective March 1, 1999, the following providers, who are members of Louisville Internal Medicine, are no longer participating: Dr. Ingrid M. Osswald; Dr. Susan E. Janocik; Dr. Cathleen J. Morris and Dr. Diana G. Irvin. Effective April 30, 1999, two other providers located in Louisville also will terminate: Dr. Henry Walter and Dr. Max Irick. A letter has been sent to all Managed Choice and Elect Choice members who Aetna's records show have selected a primary care physician (PCP) affiliated with these physicians. These members will need to select a new PCP.

Aetna U.S. Healthcare reports that the Lancaster General Medical Group in central Pennsylvania has terminated from the company's managed care network, effective February 28, 1999. The Lancaster General Medical Group consists of five primary care physicians located in Lancaster, Pa.