Providence, Aetna reach new multiyear agreement, allowing 35K Washingtonians to receive in-network care

SEATTLE — Providence health system and health insurer Aetna have reached a new multiyear contract agreement, an announcement that will allow about 35,000 Washingtonians to continue to receive in-network care.

The two national health care companies shared the news in a joint Tuesday morning statement, confirming Washington residents with Aetna plans will be covered when they seek care from providers at Swedish Health Services, Kadlec and Pacific Medical Centers.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement that puts our patients and members first and look forward to continuing to collaborate to support their care,” the statement said.

Renton-based Providence and Aetna, which is owned by CVS Health and based in Connecticut, declined to give further details about the deal, including the length of the agreement.

The two companies had been negotiating on a new contract since April. As of late Monday afternoon, a day after the old contract expired, the two hadn’t reached a deal and were “still negotiating in good faith,” Providence spokesperson Ed Boyle said.

Providence is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system with 51 hospitals and more than 1,100 clinics dispersed throughout seven states, including Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The health system operates 11 hospitals in our state.

Swedish Health Services, a formerly independent health system in the Seattle area, became part of the Providence organization in 2012. Kadlec, in southeast Washington, and PacMed, in the Puget Sound region, also joined the national health system in 2014.

Aetna, which was formed in 1853 as the Aetna Life Insurance Company, became part of CVS Health in 2018. The company offers medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, long-term care and disability plans to about 39 million people, according to its website.