Duke Health, Aetna reach deal to keep providers in network for NC patients
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Duke Health and Aetna signed a multi-year deal keeping Duke in-network.
- Agreement covers commercial and Medicare Advantage members statewide in 2025.
- Their contract was set to expire Oct. 20.
Duke Health and Aetna, after months of stalled talks, reached a new agreement Friday just over two weeks before their contract was set to expire on Oct. 20.
The multi-year deal keeps all Duke providers and locations in network for Aetna’s commercial and Medicare Advantage members, Duke said in a release. It did not specify how many years the deal is for.
The parties “came to the table together to reach an agreement that covers the cost of care. Our agreement with Aetna prioritizes efficiency, promotes high quality care and helps drive down health care costs,” Thomas Owens, Duke’s chief operating officer, said in the release.
The News & Observer reached out to Aetna, which pointed to Duke’s release.
“Duke Health is a valued partner in delivering high-quality, convenient care to Aetna members in North Carolina,” said Amelia Lee, Aetna Vice President of Network, Southeast Region, in the Duke release “We look forward to continuing to work together to meet the needs of our shared members and patients.”
The State Health Plan, which uses Aetna as its third-party administrator, also welcomed the deal.
“We appreciate the steps Duke has taken to keep costs down for the Plan,” Treasurer Brad Briner said in a written statement. “We have worked hard to dig ourselves out of a massive deficit and needed the help from all providers in the state to get that done. This deal represents Duke’s commitment to serve North Carolina and our members.”
The State Health Plan faced a projected $500 million deficit for next year and voted this year to raise 2026 premiums and take other steps to address it.
Last week, the State Health Plan filed a motion to authorize hiring a transition services vendor to help members find new providers if the contract talks between Duke and Aetna failed.
Treasurer’s office communications director Loretta Boniti previously said around 22,000 State Health Plan members list Duke as a primary-care provider and around 40,000 members filed a claim with Duke in the last year.
