CORRECTING and REPLACING Humana Announces 2009 Humana Preferred Network in Southeast Wisconsin, Exclusive Health Plan for Business Health Care Group
Broader network expands choices for consumer
MILWAUKEE--(Business Wire)--
Number in seventh graph, first sentence should read: 9 percent
(sted 4.5 percent). Seventh graph, third sentence add (restated to 14
percent in 2007).
The corrected release reads:
HUMANA ANNOUNCES 2009 HUMANA PREFERRED NETWORK IN SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN, EXCLUSIVE HEALTH PLAN FOR BUSINESS HEALTH CARE GROUP
Broader network expands choices for consumer
Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) today announced details of the 2009 Humana
Preferred network, available exclusively to the Business Health Care
Group (BHCG) member companies. The Humana Preferred network includes
many of the area's most efficient physicians and well-known hospitals.
This is the first renewal in the three-year history of the BHCG -
Humana relationship, marking the first network change since 2005.
The Humana Preferred network offers lower costs by including
participating physicians who have shown the ability to guide members
through treatment using resources most efficiently.
"We have expanded the presence of our 2009 Humana Preferred
network, giving consumers more choices in more areas for a better
overall health care experience. As a result of this process we are
confident that this will help BHCG continue making progress of
bringing health care costs closer to the Midwest average," said
Kristine Seymour, president of Humana's Wisconsin commercial market
operations.
Consumers can receive the highest level of benefits by selecting
one of more than 4,500 physicians and 30 area hospitals participating
in the Humana Preferred network. The most significant change was the
addition of St. Nicholas in Sheboygan, Physicians Health Network and
St. Joseph's in West Bend and the West Bend Clinic, which expands the
network presence. The other health systems and provider groups that
will continue to provide care to Humana Preferred network participants
are as follows: Aurora HealthCare and Medical Groups, Beloit Hospital
and Physician Group, Columbia St. Mary's Hospital and Physician Group,
Children's Hospital and Medical Group, Fort Atkinson Hospital and
Physicians, Froedtert and Community Memorial Hospital, Medical
Associates, Medical College of Wisconsin, Mercy Health System,
ProHealth Care, Watertown Hospital and Physician Group, United
Hospital Systems and Medical Group.
Consumers using the Humana Preferred network will also have
out-of-network coverage for non-participating health care providers.
In addition to the Humana Preferred network, Humana will continue to
provide a variety of care-management programs, including Humana's
innovative Personal Nurse program, as well as online information to
help consumers make educated health care buying decisions.
The expanded Humana Preferred network will be available
exclusively to BHCG member companies for effective dates beginning
January 1, 2009. Humana will next evaluate bids from hospitals and
health systems in 2011 for inclusion in the network for 2012 - 2014.
Humana will re-evaluate physicians twice each year and will make
changes to the list of physicians included in Humana Preferred network
on an annual basis.
Humana today also announced the 2007 cost results for BHCG
self-funded member companies, reporting a 2-year aggregate decrease of
9 percent per health plan member when compared to 2005 base year
costs. In 2007 the self-funded member companies experienced in
aggregate a 6.1 percent increase in medical costs (prior to benefit
application) which is approximately 4 percent less than the Milwaukee
market trend. This result, coupled with the 13.7 percent reduction
reported for 2006 (restated to 14% in 2007), produces a cumulative
2-year savings of $32 million for the self-funded member companies.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the
nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with
approximately 11.5 million medical members. Humana offers a
diversified portfolio of health insurance products and related
services - through traditional and consumer-choice plans - to employer
groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.
Over its 47-year history, Humana has consistently seized
opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a
leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower
costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified
customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via
the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at
http://www.humana.com, including copies of:
-- Annual reports to stockholders;
-- Securities and Exchange Commission filings;
-- Most recent investor conference presentations;
-- Quarterly earnings news releases;
-- Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls;
-- Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call
dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research
analysts and institutional investors);
-- Corporate Governance Information.
Humana Corporate Communications
Amanda Dvorchak Harris, 312-441-5361
advorchak@humana.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
