ATLANTA - More than 300 physicians associated with Piedmont Hospital have decided to leave Aetna's HMO network in a dispute over payments for doctors' services. <br>
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The 315 physicians dropping out said Aetna cut their rates under a new contract agreement. Those leaving include all the Piedmont Physicians Group and most doctors in its umbrella Piedmont Clinic group. <br>
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Aetna said the new contract increased the doctors' rates but they were demanding even more higher than the market average. <br>
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The doctors still will participate in Aetna's preferred provider organization, which allows patients to see a physician who's not part of the network at a higher out-of-pocket cost.