Aetna Behavioral Health Launches Website to Provide Information to Con

Aetna Behavioral Health Launches Website to Provide Information to Consumers, Employers and Behavioral Health Providers

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

    HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2005--

Website is Part of Aetna Behavioral Health's Emergence as a Full-Service Behavioral Health Company
    Aetna (NYSE:AET) today announced it is launching a new website to provide consumers, employers and behavioral health providers with additional resources for their behavioral health needs. The site, available at www.aetnabehavioralhealth.com, offers consumers practical tips about mental health and substance abuse issues; offers employers details about the full benefits spectrum offered through Aetna Behavioral Health (ABH); and offers behavioral health providers a link to the self-service website that provides electronic connections for claims, patient eligibility and other administrative tasks. The website also offers links to the Aetna Employee Assistance Program, the Reawakening Center(SM) and other member and consumer resources provided by Aetna.
    "Research shows that the Internet is an increasingly popular resource for Americans to find health information. In fact, a survey conducted for the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that 93 million Americans went online for health information, with 21 percent of online users searching for information about depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues," said Mary Fox, head of Aetna Behavioral Health. "This website is integral to our ability to provide our members with helpful information to make informed decisions about their health care. We want this site to meet the needs of people using our benefits plans, people buying our services and the behavioral health providers who take care of our members."

    Features for Consumers:

    The section of the website dedicated to helping consumers understand a variety of issues related to mental health offers interactive self-assessments for eating disorders, depression, alcoholism and other mental health topics. Consumers can read educational content about mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dementia, anxiety and other conditions. For people caring for someone with a mental health issue, the website offers a variety of tips to help people deal with the emotions related to caregiving.

    Features for Employers:

    According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 40 million American adults are affected by a mental health disorder each year. In fact, the organization predicts that one in four Americans will suffer a serious mental disorder in their lifetime. These statistics illustrate the fact that employers will see significant financial impact resulting from mental health issues among employees.
    ABH's integrated approach may help employers to enhance employee productivity, lower absenteeism and control medical costs. Employers can learn about the mind-body connection, which refers to those circumstances in which problems with the body affect the mind or mental disorders affect a person's overall health status. The website also details the plans available to employers and services such as individual and family counseling, individual and group psychotherapies, pharmacotherapy, and case and disease management.

    Features for Behavioral Health Providers:

    Behavioral Health providers can find information about the benefits plans offered by ABH, tools to help ease administration for behavioral health providers and their office staff, and links to the physician self-service website.
    To learn more about ABH, please visit: www.aetnabehavioralhealth.com

    As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, Aetna puts information and helpful resources to work for its approximately 13.7 million medical members, 11.9 million dental members, 8.4 million pharmacy members and 13.5 million group insurance members to help them make better informed decisions about their health care and protect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provides easy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide network of more than 655,000 health care professionals, including over 390,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 3,937 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of December 31, 2004)

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CONTACT: Aetna Media Contact: Kate Prout, 215-775-6264 Proutkf@aetna.com

KEYWORD: CONNECTICUT INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD INTERNET E-COMMERCE INSURANCE PRODUCT SOURCE: Aetna

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