EL PASO, Texas, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Humana Inc. and Tenet Healthcare Corporation announced today that they have entered into a long-term agreement for Sierra Providence Health Network to provide medical services to individuals and families participating in Humana's preferred provider organization (PPO) and self-funded (ASO) health insurance programs in the El Paso area.
Under terms of the agreement, effective Jan. 15, members of Humana's PPO and other health plan members supported by Humana's ChoiceCare Network can access all inpatient, outpatient and emergency services provided by the three hospitals -- Sierra Medical Center, Providence Memorial Hospital and Rio Vista Physical Rehabilitation Hospital -- located in El Paso.
"As one of El Paso's premier health care systems, Sierra Providence Health Network offers a comprehensive range of services that we are proud to offer our members," said Gary Goldstein, M.D., chief executive officer of Humana of Texas. "This partnership is an important step in providing employers and our health plan members access to a broad network of hospitals and physicians throughout the west Texas region.
"The expansion of our participating provider network is a key to Humana's commitment to provide affordable health care to employers currently facing double digit increases in health benefit costs," added Dr. Goldstein.
Humana plan members now have access to clinical services at the 351-bed Sierra Medical Center, 1625 Medical Center Drive; the 508-bed Providence Memorial Hospital, 2001 N. Oregon; and the 72-bed Rio Vista Physical Rehabilitation Hospital, located at 1740 Curie.
"We are excited about the opportunity to work with Humana," said Thomas Casaday, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sierra Providence Health Network. "This agreement signifies a commitment by both organizations to provide Humana patients, members and network physicians with convenient, community-wide access to the world-class care and services that Sierra Providence offers."
Since it opened in 1952 Providence Memorial Hospital has been providing generations of El Pasoans a broad spectrum of advanced health care programs and clinical services in general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, digestive disorder treatment and sleep disorders.
Sierra Medical Center provides advanced health care not only to El Paso but to the outlying communities of west Texas. Sierra, which opened in 1976, includes specialty health services in neonatal care, cardiac care, kidney transplant and gamma knife radiosurgery.
Rio Vista Rehabilitation Hospital, one of the few bilingual rehabilitation programs available nationwide, offers a multidisciplinary treatment approach to individuals who have suffered serious illness or injury.
Sierra Medical Center and Providence Memorial Hospital are accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation's oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.
About Sierra Providence Health Network
Sierra Providence Health Network has been named a Consumer Choice Award winner by the National Research Corporation. Sierra Providence was among the 187 hospitals in over 150 markets chosen as Consumer Choice Award winners. Every year, National Research Corporation (NRC) honors those hospitals whose consumers rate as having the best quality and image.
About Tenet Healthcare Corporation
Tenet Healthcare Corporation, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals and related health care services. Tenet's hospitals aim to provide the best possible care to every patient who comes through our doors with a clear focus on quality and service.
Tenet's operating strategy is to create market-leading integrated delivery networks in specific regions of the country. These networks consist of clusters of acute care hospitals offering a wide variety of medical services, augmented by ancillary health care services. In several cases, these networks are anchored by prestigious academic medical centers that offer the highest level of acute care services. Tenet currently operates integrated regional networks in South Florida, and Greater New Orleans.
About Humana's ChoiceCare Network
Humana's ChoiceCare Network is one of the largest proprietary provider networks in the United States, currently offering a network of more than 2,800 hospitals and more than 330,000 physicians and ancillary providers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, serving 1.5 million PPO members.
About Humana Inc.
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 7 million medical members located primarily in 15 states and Puerto Rico. 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 44-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 report to stockholders;
* Securities and Exchange Commission filings;
* Most recent investor conference presentation;
* Quarterly earnings press releases (including detailed description of
unusual items, where applicable);
* Audio archive of most recent earnings release conference call;
* Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates,
times, and access number, as well as planned interaction with
institutional investors);
* Corporate Governance Information.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030425/HUMANALOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comHumana Inc.CONTACT: Ross McLerran, Corporate Communications of Humana Inc.,+1-210-617-1771, or rmclerran@humana.com ; or Irma Flores of Sierra ProvidenceHealth Network, +1-915-577-1410, or irma.flores@tenethealth.com
Web site: http://www.humana.com/
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