Aetna Inc. (NYSE:AET) recently signed an agreement with Piedmont Healthcare to provide its members continuous in-network access to all the medical facilities of the latter. In addition to this, more than 1,400 Piedmont Clinic physicians will provide medical consultation service to Aetna members.
According to Aetna’s market president for Georgia, Angela Meoli, Aetna and Piedmont have been working in partnership over years to ensure access to high-quality care and improving health for members of the Greater Atlanta community. Hence, the latest contract is expected to further boost the long-term partnership of the duo.
The CEO of Piedmont Healthcare, Kevin Brown, believes that the partnership with Aetna, will largely benefit the company’s patients. This is because these patients will not only continue have access to Piedmont physicians but also gain from the premium level of health care provided by Aetna’s technologically improved advanced services network. Aetna’s substantially large international business will also add to Piedmont’s strength.
Piedmont Healthcare is now entitled to participate in Aetna’s Institutes of Excellence, a network of high-performing hospitals, clinics and health care facilities that offer specialized care. This indicates Piedmont Healthcare’s position as a leading health care facility in terms of high quality and cost-effective operation for adult liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation.
On the other hand, Aetna members are likely to be gain significantly from Piedmont Healthcare’s world-class transplant medical facilities and the assistance of the highly skilled and experienced Piedmont Healthcare physicians. This, in turn, should boost Aetna’s membership base to a great extent.
Aetna presently carries Zacks Rank #3 (Hold)
Stocks That Warrant a Look
Investors can also look at some better-ranked stocks from the same space like Humana Inc (NYSE:HUM) , UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) and Wellcare Health Plans Inc (NYSE:WCG) . Among these stocks, Humana sports Zacks Rank #1( Strong Buy) while UnitedHealth and Wellcare Health carry Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Confidential from Zacks
Beyond this Analyst Blog, would you like to see Zacks' best recommendations that are not available to the public? Our Executive VP, Steve Reitmeister, knows when key trades are about to be triggered and which of our experts has the hottest hand. Click to see them now>>
AETNA INC-NEW (AET): Free Stock Analysis Report
HUMANA INC NEW (HUM): Free Stock Analysis Report
UNITEDHEALTH GP (UNH): Free Stock Analysis Report
WELLCARE HEALTH (WCG): Free Stock Analysis Report
Original post
Zacks Investment Research