HealthHelp Takes Radiation Oncology Benefit Management Nationwide

Humana Implementation Marks First Coast-to-Coast Deployment
HOUSTON--(Business Wire)--
With cancer`s incidence and treatment costs rising, HealthHelp has become the
first company to provide radiation oncology management on a national scale.
Approximately 4 million Humana patients in 46 states will benefit from this
innovative new program.

Humana`s service went live in early July, one month after researchers at M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center published a paper in the Journal of Clinical Oncology
estimating that the number of cancer cases will rise by 45 percent over the next
two decades.1 Another analysis-published in the same journal just as the Humana
program launched-concluded that the economic burden of cancer care will continue
to make it less affordable for more and more Americans unless health care
organizations take steps or curb such trends.2

"Controlling treatment cost and quality has become an imperative for payers,"
said HealthHelp president and CEO Cherrill Farnsworth. "We are proud to serve as
pioneers in the effort to keep cancer care affordable and accessible while
ensuring quality and safety."

As is the case with diagnostic imaging, radiation oncology options evolve
continually as new technologies become available. While such advances often
improve cancer care and save lives, overuse or misuse inflates cost and can
result in subsequent illness. Meanwhile, payers and physicians face challenges
in keeping up with the latest medical evidence.

HealthHelp`s radiation oncology services enable health care payers to make sure
their members with cancer receive the right amounts of radiation using the right
delivery modalities at the right times to achieve the best outcomes.

"During our implementation of radiation oncology benefit management services for
Humana, we met with the top radiation oncology groups in its network,"
Farnsworth said. "These physicians responded positively to our program and
acknowledged some of the factors that unnecessarily inflate the cost of
radiological cancer treatment. For example, they noted that some of their
colleagues treat patients unnecessarily with higher-cost modalities, and others
pad revenue by adding treatments."

In the longer term, ensuring radiation oncology treatment plans conform to
evidence-based protocols lowers costs by helping prevent

* recurring cancers, which can result from ineffective radiation delivery;
* secondary cancers caused by unnecessary radiation exposure to healthy tissue;
and
* side effects, which can require additional treatment.

HealthHelp manages radiation oncology benefits through its effective and
collaborative RadConsult program or through RadCert, which adds precertification
to the RadConsult model. In addition, radiation oncology claims are reviewed
through the automated CodeRight program. Payers have come to depend on these
cost-saving programs to manage diagnostic imaging benefits.

HealthHelp provides one-time authorization for complete radiation oncology
treatment plans that incorporate 3D conformal radiation, intensity-modulated
radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy, brachytherapy,
and proton-beam therapy. Ordering physicians follow the same process and work
through the same contact center they currently use to request imaging exams, and
they receive evidence-based medical literature supporting best practices in
radiation oncology.

HealthHelp`s radiation oncology capabilities can be combined with its effective
diagnostic imaging management services, or it can seamlessly complement other,
more traditional RBM precertification programs.

About HealthHelp®

HealthHelp, a leader in radiology benefit management, generates significant
savings and return on investment for health care payers by decreasing costs
while improving enrollees` quality of care and reducing unnecessary radiation
exposure. Each of its nine programs addresses a different aspect of diagnostic
imaging and radiation oncology, from procedure ordering to patient education.
The clients of Houston-based HealthHelp administer local, statewide, and
national health care plans all across the country. For more information about
HealthHelp`s programs, visit www.healthhelp.com.

1 Smith BD, Smith GL, Hurria A, et al. Future of cancer incidence in the United
States: burdens upon an aging, changing nation. J Clin Oncol. June 10, 2009;
27:2758-2765.

2 Meropol NJ, Schrag D, Smith TJ, et al. American Society of Clinical Oncology
Guidance Statement: the Cost of Cancer Care. J Clin Oncol. July 6, 2009. [Epub
ahead of print]

FrogDog Communications
Eric Herrera, 713-867-9807
eric@frog-dog.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009