TriStar Health System and UnitedHealthcare Extend and Expand Relationship
New Agreement Adds Medicare Advantage Options

March 1, 2010 - TriStar Health System and UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, today announced their organizations have extended their TennCare Medicaid managed care relationship and, additionally, have expanded the agreement to include two new Medicare Advantage options. 

The TennCare agreement is effective immediately with no disruption in service or access to TriStar hospitals for AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare TennCare enrollees.  

“With this agreement, we are pleased to offer our members continued access to TriStar Health System services,” said Scott Bowers, president of AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare in Tennessee. “A comprehensive array of medical services and cutting-edge technology is available to TennCare members through TriStar Health System, one of the state’s most highly rated hospital groups.”

AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare is one of three TennCare managed care organizations that serve Middle Tennessee and is also one of the TennCare managed care organizations serving the Chattanooga area where TriStar has three hospitals.

“We believe it is important for our state’s TennCare program to ensure access to quality healthcare for its enrollees,” said Larry Kloess, president of HCA’s TriStar Division. “We are pleased to reach an agreement with AmeriChoice that ensures its enrollees have continued access to the quality services available at our facilities.”

TriStar has also entered into two new Medicare Advantage contracts with UnitedHealthcare.  Effective March 1, 2010, TriStar Health System facilities will become participating providers in AmeriChoice Secure Plus Complete, a program for TennCare enrollees who are also eligible for Medicare.  Additionally, TriStar Health System will be an in-network provider for UnitedHealthcare’s SecureHorizons and AARP Medicare Advantage HMO plans.

Individuals enrolled in these UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans will have in-network access to the following hospitals: Centennial Medical Center, Southern Hills Medical Center, Skyline Medical Center, and Skyline Madison in Nashville, Centennial Medical Center in Ashland City, Hendersonville Medical Center in Hendersonville, StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna, Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Horizon Medical Center in Dickson, and all Parkridge hospitals in Chattanooga.

The agreement will add more than 235 primary and specialty care physicians affiliated with the hospitals to the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage network. “For Medicare enrollees who are enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, and for those considering the plan during open enrollment, this new agreement between TriStar and UnitedHealthcare now gives them more choices and improved access to hospitals and healthcare services close to home,” said Kloess.

TriStar Health System has been a participating provider with the TennCare program since its inception in 1994. In November 2009, TriStar Health System and AmeriGroup Community Care, the other TennCare managed care organization in Middle Tennessee, were unable to reach agreement on a new contract, and since that time AmeriGroup enrollees have not had in-network access to TriStar facilities.  Beginning May 1, TennCare enrollees will have an open enrollment period, during which time they will have the option of choosing a new TennCare managed care organization.

About TriStar Health System
TriStar Health System is the region’s largest, most comprehensive healthcare provider with 18 hospitals and 10 ambulatory surgery centers in Tennessee, South Central Kentucky and Northern Georgia. Our family of hospitals is supported by approximately 5300 physicians and nearly 10,000 employees. Our hospitals feature state-of-the-art technology and pioneer new medical procedures every day in cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, surgery, and emergency medicine to accommodate the needs of the more than 125,000 patient admissions and nearly 550,000 Emergency Department visits annually. For more information about our services and physicians, go to TriStarHealth.com or call TriStar MedLineSM at 615-342-1919.

About AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare
AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare is a Medicaid managed care organization that provides medical and behavioral health care services to TennCare members in East, Middle, and West Tennessee. AmeriChoice is the country’s premier provider of high quality, personalized public sector health care programs, serving more than 3 million people in Medicaid, Medicare and Children's Health Insurance Programs in 25 states and the District of Columbia. AmeriChoice is a unit of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. Visit www.americhoice.com for more information.

About UnitedHealthcare's Medicare product portfolio
UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare product portfolio serves one-in-five Medicare beneficiaries. Our senior health and well-being business manages a full array of products and services that include Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare supplement plans, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, employer retiree health services, chronic disease management and care coordination programs. More information is available at www.uhcmedicaresolutions.com

About Summit Medical Center
Summit Medical Center, part of the TriStar Family of Hospitals, is a 188-bed regional medical center serving the residents of Davidson, Wilson and surrounding counties.  Summit offers a full range of services including emergency, medical, surgical, obstetric, oncology, psychiatric and diagnostic services.  The hospital also offers the latest advances in imaging services, including the area’s first hospital based 64-slice CT scanner. For more information, call TriStar MedLine at 615-342-1919 or visit www.TriStarHealth.com and click on Summit Medical Center.