An eleventh-hour agreement between Aetna, which is owned by CVS Health, and Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic has averted a health care crisis for thousands of patients in the area.
A multi-year renewal deal was announced just before New Year’s Day and will ensure that Aetna members can continue to receive in-network care at St. Mary Medical Center and other Trinity Health facilities without disruption.
The agreement comes after tense negotiations that stretched through much of 2024.
“We are pleased to share Aetna, a CVS Health company, and Trinity Health/Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic have reached a multi-year agreement that will allow our valued patients and members to maintain the in-network access to the Trinity Health/Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic hospitals, facilities, and health care providers they trust. We are thankful for everyone’s patience and support as we worked together to reach a fair agreement,” said Jason Griffith, communications manager for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic.
Patients had been on edge since receiving notices that Aetna would no longer cover visits to St. Mary Medical Center as in-network due to the contract dispute.
In recent weeks, the dispute prompted a public outcry as some took to social media to voice their frustrations over the uncertainty.
The strain was evident among patients like Carol Roby, a resident of Lower Southampton Township, who said in a hospital news release that she hoped the two sides could reach an agreement.
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic is part of Trinity Health, one of the nation’s largest Catholic healthcare delivery systems.
Aetna, which is headquartered in Connecticut, service 36 million members throughout the country.
With the new agreement in place, Trinity Health advised patients they can continue to schedule appointments and seek care at affiliated offices as usual.
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