Aetna Honored By The International Society For Pharmacoeconomics And Outcomes Research

HARTFORD, Conn., June 04, 2012 — Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Aetna (NYSE: AET) have been recognized for their research that evaluated the impact that cost-sharing has on medication adherence, medical costs and health outcomes for a targeted condition.  The Myocardial Infarction Free Rx Event and Economic Evaluation (MI FREEE) Trial is the winner of the 2012 Award for Excellence by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).

The ISPOR Award for Excellence in Methodology in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes Research honors outstanding research designed to advance the field of outcomes research while having a substantial impact on the field with anticipated acceptance and application by others. The MI FREEE research was led by Niteesh K. Choudhry, M.D., PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He will accept the award during the Second Plenary Session of the ISPOR 17th Annual International Meeting being held June 2-6, 2012, at the Washington Hilton, Washington, DC.

“No previous studies had adequately evaluated the impact of reducing member cost-sharing on medication use and health outcomes for any disease,” said Lonny Reisman, M.D., F.A.C.C., Aetna’s chief medical officer. “Now we have a growing body of evidence that shows reducing cost sharing for high-risk members who have suffered a heart attack is a simple and scalable action that can substantially improve adherence and health outcomes at no additional cost.”

Based on the MI FREEE study, Aetna recently launched a value-based program option for members who have suffered from heart attacks – Aetna Rx Healthy Outcomes. The program, which will begin enrollment in 2013, focuses on and engages high-risk members early, provides them counsel and financial support to increase adherence to cardiac medications that will help prevent recurrent MI or major vascular events. 

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.1 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, Medicaid health care management services and health information technology services. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.