Aetna Makes it Easier for Members to Share Personal Health Information with Care Providers to Improve Quality Care
September 12 2011 - 4:18PM
Business Wire
Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced that its members can more
easily get timely electronic access to their health information,
and securely share that information with their providers,
caregivers, or family members. The announcement was made at the
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Consumer Health IT
Summit in Washington, D.C. Personal health information can help
save time, improve treatment, and even save lives.
Aetna members now have a Blue Button® option through their
online personal health record (PHR) available through Aetna’s
secure member website. This Blue Button capability means that
information in a PHR can be securely downloaded into a simple text
file. A text file can more easily be imported into other computer
programs or personal health management tools for both patients and
caregivers.
“Blue Button expands the ability of patients and their health
care providers to easily share personal health information --
medications (including OTC), allergies and emergency contact
information -- that will lead to more informed health care
decisions. If we make it easier for patients and their doctors to
share this kind of information with each other, we can improve the
accuracy of treatment decisions. Ultimately, we’re always
looking to create a more efficient and effective health care system
that can deliver better health outcomes,” said Mark Bertolini,
Aetna Chairman, CEO and President.
Aetna makes ONC pledges
As part of today’s summit, the Office of the National
Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), in the U.S.
Department of Health & Human Services, invited leading
organizations with health IT interests to join in making data
securely, conveniently and easily available to consumers, and
engaging them in efforts to use their own electronic personal
health information to improve their care and well-being.
Aetna is one of only two national insurers to join in today’s
summit. Aetna has already implemented all aspects of the ONC’s
campaign pledges as both a data holder and non-data holder, which
means the company agrees to increase secure access to and encourage
the increased use of personal health information among consumers
and their health care providers.
Currently, Aetna members also have the option to share a
read-only view of their PHR summary with Aetna network providers
electronically through Aetna’s secure provider website. However,
the new “Blue Button” text format provides more information than
the summary and gives members’ more functionality in how they
choose to use their health data.
By 2012, Aetna expects to give members the ability to send text
files of their PHR data directly to their Aetna network providers
through Aetna’s secure provider website. Aetna will continue to
work with its subsidiaries and vendors to further increase
patients’ and providers’ ability to quickly, easily and safely
share health information.
Aetna’s industry-leading PHR is well positioned to significantly
advance information sharing. Aetna has the only PHR that has
measured impact on behavior, and has one of the highest adoption
rates in the industry. Aetna’s PHR integrates information from
claims systems, wellness programs and user-provided information so
that members and their health care team have access to robust
amounts of health information.
Through continued enhancements to the PHR and member tools and
resources, Aetna continues to encourage individuals to access their
personal health information and understand the benefits of using
the information to improve their health care and their health.
[“Blue Button” is a registered Service Mark of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), an agency of the United States
Government and is used by permission of VA]
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care
benefits companies, serving approximately 36.5 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.
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