WASHINGTON, D.C., March 15, 2004 - Stressing the critical link between overall health care and oral care, Aetna (NYSE: AET) recently honored the contributions of dental professionals who are working to help overcome health care disparities by delivering high-quality oral health services to minority and underprivileged populations.

During a ceremony celebrating the release of the 23rd edition of Aetna's African American History Calendar, Aetna President Ronald A. Williams recognized the powerful contributions made by African American oral health care professionals.

"Aetna is proud to serve as a catalyst, and to encourage a dialogue about the variations in health status and health care delivery among minority populations," Williams said. "We salute the efforts of each participant to improve oral health and light up smiles."

Aetna is using the dental and medical data it collects to learn more about the health status of its members, Williams said. For example, he noted that people with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to have coronary artery disease. And women with periodontal disease are seven times more likely to have a low birth weight baby.

Joining Aetna in honoring African American oral health care professionals were U.S. Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) and U.S. Rep. Donna Marie Christian-Christensen, M.D. (D-U.S. Virgin Islands).

Hazel Harper, D.D.S., M.P.H., an oral health activist who practices dentistry in Washington, D.C., was also among the featured speakers. Deeply involved in health legislation and policy issues, Dr. Harper maintains a private practice in general dentistry within a multispecialty dental group, while providing consulting services to nonprofit health organizations. She is one of the 12 featured oral health professionals in this year's calendar.

"I am very honored to share the pages of the Aetna African American History Calendar with some other dreamers," Dr. Harper said. "We all realize that the privilege of standing on the shoulders of giants brings with it the responsibility of preserving the legacy and the obligation to commit to secure the future. I thank Aetna for allowing us to tell our stories and promote oral health care to our communities and our children, through messengers that look like them."

Aetna's efforts to address disparities are focused on improving the quality of care. Already, the company has:

l Collected member racial and language preferences data, on a voluntary, self-identification basis. Approximately 80 percent of members who have the opportunity to share this data have done so;
l Launched a cultural competency program for Aetna clinical staff. Approximately 80 percent (1,500) have completed the training;
l Awarded approximately $3 million in funding to programs focused on addressing disparities in health and disease prevention;
l Developed advertising as part of its new ad campaign - We want you to know. Aetna - that features efforts to help African Americans lead healthier lives.

Proceeds from the sale of the 2004 calendar will benefit the scholarship program of the National Dental Association Foundation. Last year, the proceeds from the sale of calendars totaled nearly $10,000 and went to the National Black Nurses Association scholarship program.

Aetna is one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, serving approximately 13.0 million medical members, 10.9 million dental members, 7.4 million pharmacy members and 12.3 million group insurance customers, as of December 31, 2003. The company has expansive nationwide networks of more than 600,000 health care services providers, including over 362,000 primary care and specialist physicians and 3,626 hospitals. For more information about Aetna, please visit the company's web site at www.aetna.com.
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