By CVS Health, February 8, 2021

Aetna Better Health, the Medicaid managed care business of Aetna, a CVS Health company, today announced the launch of the Trauma Informed Care Center of Excellence (Center). Aetna will stand up Centers in California and Oklahoma to address secondary trauma – the emotional duress that results when an individual is exposed to the firsthand trauma experience of another – in the workforce. Aetna plans to extend the model to Ohio and Nevada in the coming months.

Aetna Better Health has long been a leader in Trauma Informed Care by bringing together professionals and experts across the nation who understand the public health emergency that is the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on a person’s lifelong health. Through the Center, Aetna will shift its trauma informed focus to include adults that may be at high risk for secondary trauma due to workplace exposure. Through this expansion, Aetna will promote organizational culture change by coaching community partners to address secondary trauma in the workforce and take care of those who take care of others.

“Studies show that between 6 and 26 percent of therapists working with traumatized populations are at risk of secondary trauma,” said Kelly Munson, President, Aetna Medicaid. “As a managed care organization, we are in a unique position to bring the science of trauma, as well as the science of hope, to bear on behalf of our members, our communities, our own staff and community workforce.”

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