Network access for Aetna members in Georgia has expanded. Athens Regional Medical Center and Aetna have reached an agreement on a new two-year contract that allows members of Aetna commercial plans to receive covered benefits at in-network rates from the hospital.

“By joining with Aetna, Athens Regional Medical Center has expanded hospital and group health insurance choices for residents of the Athens-Clarke County community and other surrounding counties,” said Paul Collar, director of managed care at Athens Regional Medical Center in a released statement.

Aetna provides health benefits to more than 500,000 members in Georgia. With this agreement, Aetna now contracts with 164 of the state’s 168 acute-care hospitals, as well as 15,000 primary care and specialist physicians.