315 Piedmont Hospital doctors leave Atena's HMO

ATLANTA - More than 300 physicians associated with Piedmont Hospital have decided to leave Aetna&#39;s HMO network in a dispute over payments for doctors&#39; services. <br> <br> 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> <br> Aetna said the new contract increased the doctors&#39; rates but they were demanding even more higher than the market average. <br> <br> The doctors still will participate in Aetna&#39;s preferred provider organization, which allows patients to see a physician who&#39;s not part of the network at a higher out-of-pocket cost.

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