BLUE BELL, PA (INTELIHEALTH) - InteliHealth (www.intelihealth.com), an Aetna company, announced today that it has been awarded Health Web Site accreditation by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC’s Health Web Site Accreditation program is the first of its kind, and promotes quality and accountability in online health information and services. InteliHealth, an online health information website, is among the first to achieve this important distinction.

“InteliHealth consistently has worked to position itself as one of the most credible and authoritative sources on the Internet for up-to-date, consumer health information. This is, in part, the basis of our long-term content relationships with Harvard Medical School and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. The URAC seal on our site will provide InteliHealth visitors with one more reason why we can be regarded as the trusted source for credible health information,” said Sal Uglietta, president of InteliHealth. InteliHealth is a subsidiary of Aetna Inc.

“I am extremely proud that InteliHealth is among the first wave of health websites to receive accreditation from an organization as respected as URAC,” InteliHealth’s Chief Medical Officer Raymond J. Fabius, M.D., said at today’s press conference announcing the awards. “As more consumers use health and medical information on the Web to make health care decisions, it is critical that quality standards are in place. InteliHealth has always aspired to be the trusted source for health consumers trying to find information regarding their medical and health questions. This accreditation should serve as an example to our visitors and business partners of InteliHealth’s continued commitment to provide credible health care information in an environment that respects their privacy.”

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, approximately half of all Internet users who have gone online for medical information (48 percent) say the advice they found on the Web has improved the way they take care of themselves, and 41 percent of health seekers say that in their most recent search, the information they found online influenced a major medical decision they had to make, such as how to treat a medical condition or whether to get a second opinion.

“As one of the first health websites to earn URAC accreditation, InteliHealth has displayed their leadership through a commitment to quality and accountability,” said Garry Carneal, URAC President and CEO. “Such a commitment is critical to the future growth of e-health as an integral part of our nation’s health care system.”

Today, visitors to InteliHealth will be able to view a seal on the site that explains the accreditation and links to URAC’s website. In addition, InteliHealth’s site will explain the importance of accreditation through a question-and-answer segment as well as commentary by Dr. Fabius.

The URAC Health Web Site Accreditation Program Standards were released on July 30, 2001 and address various aspects of health website operations, including:

• Health content editorial process
• Disclosure of financial relationships
• Linking to other websites
• Privacy and security
• Consumer complaint mechanisms

The standards were developed through a broad-based committee process, and are based in part on the 14 Hi-Ethics Principles (www.hiethics.org). The standards are designed to ensure that a website implements appropriate processes to protect consumer interests and provides quality information and services. InteliHealth is a founding member of Hi-Ethics, a coalition of the most widely used Internet health sites and content providers dedicated to upholding the highest standards for consumer protection on the Web.

“Hi-Ethics member organizations should be commended for committing time and resources to developing policies that protect the privacy of consumers and enable them to identify quality health websites,” said Michael Rozen, president of Hi-Ethics and chief privacy officer for WellMed. “Hi-Ethics members cleared the way for other health care companies to convey their support for consumer-based standards through Hi-Ethics membership and URAC’s accreditation program.”

InteliHealth, an Internet company, delivers content through an in-house editorial staff and exclusive relationships with Harvard Medical School and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. In addition, InteliHealth incorporates input from more than 150 top health organizations – including the National Institutes of Health – key health associations and major medical-publishing companies. A founding member of Hi-Ethics, InteliHealth has distribution and content-licensing agreements with more than 400 major broadcast, print and interactive media outlets. InteliHealth seeks to empower people with trusted solutions for healthier lives. InteliHealth is a subsidiary of Aetna Inc.

The Harvard Medical School faculty – the world’s largest – includes a total of 8,000 physicians with teaching, research, and patient care responsibility. The research carried out by HMS faculty is at the forefront of basic biomedical science and clinical research. To learn more about Harvard Medical School, visit its website at www.med.harvard.edu.

The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (SDM) is a private institution ranked among the nation’s top in dental education and research, with an alumni body of over 7,500 dentists worldwide. The school’s educational programs include a predoctoral D.M.D. professional program and postgraduate programs in all the major clinical specialties. Penn Dental faculty includes recognized leaders in their areas of specialization who have authored the standard texts in numerous subjects. The school also is a major regional provider of oral health care, treating over 25,000 patients each year in its clinical teaching facilities and through the University of Pennsylvania Dental Care Network.

URAC is a leader in the accreditation of health and managed care organizations. Founded in 1990, URAC currently offers 13 accreditation programs that span a broad spectrum of health care services. URAC has issued over 2,000 accreditation certificates to more than 500 health care programs. URAC-accredited organizations do business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada and provide services to more than 120 million Americans.