UnitedHealthcare Becomes First Company to Base Chemotherapy Drug Coverage on National...

UnitedHealthcare Becomes First Company to Base Chemotherapy Drug Coverage on National Comprehensive Cancer Network Compendium

-- NCCN Compendium provides independent source for chemotherapy
coverage decisions

-- Reflects UnitedHealthcare's commitment to evidence-based
medicine by partnering with leading medical societies and
physician organizations
MINNEAPOLIS--(Business Wire)--UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) company,
announced that, effective March 15, it will base its benefit coverage
for chemotherapy drugs used in outpatient settings on the National
Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Drugs and Biologics Compendium.

The NCCN, an alliance of 21 of the nation's leading cancer
centers, is an authoritative source of information to help patients
and health professionals make informed decisions about cancer care.
The NCCN's compendium recommends drugs and biologics for the major
types of FDA-approved disease indications and specific NCCN panel
recommendations.

The development of NCCN information is based on the independent
evaluation of available scientific evidence integrated with the expert
judgment of leading clinicians. Compendium recommendations are derived
from the NCCN Guidelines(TM), a widely-used source of information
recognized as the standard of care for oncology in the United States.

Bill McGivney, Ph.D., NCCN CEO, said: "We are pleased that
UnitedHealthcare is the first company to choose the NCCN's compendium
as the basis for its guidelines in reimbursing for chemotherapy drugs
administered in an outpatient setting. The compendium is developed
based on the explicit evaluation of available scientific evidence
integrated with the expert judgment of multidisciplinary panels of
expert physicians from NCCN member institutions. The breadth and scope
of this collaborative effort represents a significant advance beyond
any previously developed guidelines. As a result, the NCCN guidelines
have become the most widely used in oncology practice."

Previously, UnitedHealthcare based its chemotherapy-drug policies
on a range of medical literature resources, which, according to Lee
Newcomer, M.D., UnitedHealthcare's senior vice president, oncology,
has been standard in the industry.

The NCCN Drugs and Biologics Compendium guidelines recommend the
most appropriate therapy based on clinical evidence and the consensus
of leading academic cancer centers. They suggest the correct
diagnostic evaluation, such as scans, X-rays and lab tests, optimal
therapy - drug, X-ray or surgery - as well as appropriate follow-up
tests.

"UnitedHealthcare is the first national health plan to incorporate
National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines into our
chemotherapy-drug benefit," said Dr. Newcomer. "Our collaboration with
NCCN reflects UnitedHealthcare's commitment to partner closely with
the nation's leading independent medical societies and physician
organizations in order to ensure our members receive quality,
evidence-based care.

"This new policy provides clinicians, patients and our customers
with a respected, independent reference source for use in making
chemotherapy coverage decisions," Dr. Newcomer added. "It is one of
several programs launched after UnitedHealthcare established a
dedicated oncology team in 2005 to improve the quality of oncology
care for our members. NCCN guidelines are a trusted source of
treatment recommendations, and we value the fact that they are
publicly available for both physicians and patients."

UnitedHealthcare will update its chemotherapy-drug policies in
conjunction with monthly updates made by the NCCN to its compendium.
UnitedHealthcare is currently communicating this change in drug policy
regarding use of the compendium to its network of physicians. Complete
information is available on the company's physician portal at
www.unitedhealthcareonline.com.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit
alliance of 21 of the world's leading cancer centers, is dedicated to
improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients
with cancer. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical
professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources
that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the
health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer
care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement
and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice
guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other
health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives
is to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of oncology
practice so patients can live better lives.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare (www.unitedhealthcare.com) provides a full
spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services. The
company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services
on behalf of more than 26 million individual consumers, contracting
directly with more than 550,000 physicians and care professionals and
4,800 hospitals nationwide to offer them broad, convenient access to
services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and
well-being company.

UnitedHealthcare
Lynne High, (952) 992-5708
lynne_m_high@uhc.com
or
NCCN
Thomas Mitchell, (215) 690-0245
mitchell@nccn.org

Copyright Business Wire 2008