Aetna, Take Care sign national contract; rapid clinic growth is predicted

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. Take Care Health Systems, a subsidiary of Walgreens, has signed a national contract with Aetna to become part of its national network of providers.

The move not only further broadens Take Care Health’s base of patients covered nationwide, but, according to at least one industry observer, fosters clinic growth over the coming years.

"This is yet one more step that should support rapid clinic growth over the next five years," stated Goldman Sachs analyst John Heinbockel in a research note. "This growth could, over time, visibly contribute to Walgreens’ top- and bottom-line growth rates."

Aetna serves more than 15 million medical members and, in Heinbockel’s view, gives Take Care "added credibility and name recognition," as well as a larger customer base to target.

"Take Care Health is serving a critical need in the U.S. health care system by providing access to quality, affordable health care, while integrating with the medical community to deliver patient-first care," stated Peter Miller, president and chief executive officer of Take Care Health, which currently has 56 health clinics in operation. "Americans have embraced the concept. We have seen nearly 200,000 patients with consistently high patient satisfaction rates since opening our first centers in November 2005."