HARTFORD, Conn., and
DUBLIN, Ohio, Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Aetna (NYSE: AET)
and Cardinal Health's P4 Healthcare business today announced the
launch of a joint program that will identify and promote the best
clinical practices to improve the overall quality – the delivery
and success -- and cost of cancer treatment.
"We're focused on making cancer care more effective, more
affordable and safer for our members," says Robert Kropp, M.D., regional medical director
for Aetna's Southeast Region. "Our agreement with P4 Healthcare
allows us to work quickly and directly with local doctors at the
point of care to increase treatment plans based in proven science.
This has shown to result in better patient outcomes, often with
lower costs."
The agreement with P4 Healthcare is part of Aetna's
collaborative approach to cancer care that includes:
- working with the medical community;
- encouraging the application of evidenced-based medicine;
- delivering decision support;
- providing incentives for the delivery of quality,
cost-effective care; and
- sharing costs savings with participating doctors.
P4 Healthcare and Aetna will establish regional committees in
Florida and Maryland, comprised of local oncologists who
participate in Aetna's networks. The committees will identify
evidence-based treatment regimens, or clinical pathways, for
delivering patient care initially for breast, lung, and colon
cancers.
"We believe that when doctors are meaningfully engaged in the
process for developing clinical pathways, they are more likely to
adopt the treatment regimens, because they understand and believe
in the process," said Jeffrey Scott,
M.D., senior vice president and general manager of P4 Healthcare.
"This process also empowers physicians to identify additional
opportunities to improve the quality and affordability of cancer
care."
P4 Healthcare will also provide proprietary technology, tools,
educational programs and training to help doctors within the Aetna
network implement and monitor use of the treatment pathways. These
tools also capture clinical results and track cost savings of the
program – without additional administrative work. The program is
expected to expand to two additional states in 2011.
P4 Healthcare is part of Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions,
which provides clinical, reimbursement and distribution services to
help healthcare providers, payors and pharmaceutical manufacturers
deliver quality, cost-effective care to patients with complex
diseases.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care
benefits companies, serving approximately 35.3 million people with
information and resources to help them make better informed
decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of
traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance
products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental,
behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical
management capabilities and health care management services for
Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals,
college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans,
governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and
expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com. To learn more
about Aetna's innovative online tools, visit
www.aetnatools.com.
About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio,
Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $99
billion health care services company that improves the
cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health
care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory
surgery centers and physician offices focus on patient care while
reducing costs, improving efficiency and quality, and increasing
profitability. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health
care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products
to more than 60,000 locations each day. The company is also a
leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including
gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In
addition, the company supports the growing diagnostic industry by
supplying medical products to clinical laboratories and operating
the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense
products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Ranked #17 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than
30,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be
found at cardinalhealth.com.
SOURCE Cardinal Health