Aetna and PinnacleHealth System announced today a new accountable care agreement that is designed to improve the quality of care and lower overall health care costs for Aetna commercial plan members in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area.

The collaboration will use PinnacleHealth System's comprehensive, integrated system of physicians, hospitals and ambulatory services to give area employers better health care options for their employees by:

1. Creating a more coordinated patient experience
2. Saving employees money when they use providers aligned with PinnacleHealth System
3. Improving health care outcomes 

The Aetna/PinnacleHealth System co-branded products will offer a wide array of plan designs and funding options, giving Harrisburg-area employers choices that enhance the membership experience through a collaborative team approach to the full spectrum of health care. 

Aetna will introduce both fully insured and self-insured health plans in Central Pennsylvania that will use PinnacleHealth System's community-based systems of care and its network of highly respected physicians. The first product, for groups of more than 51 employees, will be available on April 1, 2014. A small-group product for groups of between two and 50 employees will be introduced July 1, 2014.

To see the entire press release on this new Accountable Care Relationship please click on this link . 

This is the second Accountable Care Relationship that Aetna has entered into with health systems in Central Pennsylvania. It was recently announced that Aetna and Wellspan Health, the largest health system in York and Adams counties, entered into a similar arrangement for employer groups in York and Adam counties.

Look for more information to come in the next couple of weeks.