Aetna Better Health of Louisiana is expanding its footprint in Louisiana from New Orleans to Baton Rouge and is moving into a 13,302-square-foot office space at Perkins Rowe.
Aetna will open above LA Fitness in July, according to a news release. Approximately 100 employees will be housed there.
“Aetna is very proud to be part of Healthy Louisiana,” said Salli Duncan, chief executive officer of Aetna Better Health, in a prepared statement. “We are excited to help the state provide critical health care services to hundreds of thousands of Louisiana residents, aligning with Aetna’s mission to create a healthier world.”
According to an Aetna spokesman, the Perkins Rowe location is a Medicaid operation.
Through the same company spokesman, Duncan explained that Aetna Better Health Louisiana manages health care for Medicaid recipients, children receiving services under CHIP, those qualifying for assistance under the Aged, Blind and Disabled program and to those qualifying for behavioral health services.
“On the commercial side, Aetna has sold plans in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge for many years,” the company says. “This is a Medicaid operation, however. We have served Medicaid members statewide since February 2014 with a primary office in Kenner and small satellites in Baton Rouge and Shreveport. This will be another large office.”
New positions will be available while some staff may move to Baton Rouge from the New Orleans area, Aetna says.
“We’ve been interested in expanding into Baton Rouge since we first entered the market. Now, with expected membership growth due to Medicaid expansion, we’re in a position to do so,” the company says.
Aetna isn’t the only new tenant opening at Perkins Rowe. Gourmet paleteria Rock n’ Pops is opening this month at Perkins Rowe across the Barnes & Noble, near California Pizza Kitchen.
