Report: Hospital, Aetna Reach Health Care Agreement

Stony Brook University Medical Center and Aetna have reached a deal after about four months of negotiations that will enable the hospital to remain an in-network provider, according to a Long Island Business News report.

Aetna's original contract with the hospital originally expired April 30, but a temporary extension allowed the contract to be valid until Aug. 15.

Hospital CEO Dr. Steven Strongwater said the deal will "help contain health care costs for Aetna subscribers," and a spokeswoman for Aetna lauded the agreement, saying it would provide stability.

"It helps us to be able to plan our rates we charge businesses, if we know what this contract is going to be priced at. It helps us to understand what our medical costs look like," Aetna spokeswoman Susan Millerick told LIBN.

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