Patients Benefit From Radiology Benefit Management

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) has reduced unnecessary radiation exposure for its members by the equivalent of more than five million chest x-rays since 2004, demonstrating how health benefits companies can lead the way in improving the quality and safety of health.

Humana, one of the federal government’s largest Medicare Advantage partners, accomplished this reduction through effective radiology benefit management programs developed by HealthHelp, a leading specialty benefit management provider.

"Humana continually strives to improve quality and safety for our members, and it was this commitment that led us to adopt radiology benefit management more than five years ago,” said Louis I. Hochheiser, M.D., Humana’s corporate medical director for clinical policy.

Making sure patients receive the right diagnostic imaging tests at the right times in high-quality facilities, significantly reduces unnecessary radiation exposure, HealthHelp chief medical officer Mark Hiatt, M.D., testified at a public meeting held by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

As part of the FDA’s initiative to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure in diagnostic imaging, Dr. Hiatt explained how effective radiology benefit management programs can help protect patients from inappropriate and duplicative testing.

The necessity for a coordinated approach to reducing radiation exposure was emphasized by a new study from the National Cancer Institute that projects 29,000 excess cancers will be diagnosed from the 72 million CT scans that Americans got in 2007 alone. The study also indicates that nearly 15,000 of those cancers could be fatal. The Institute also projects that 29,000 future cancers will be directly attributable to CT scans performed in 2007. Using HealthHelp’s programs, Humana manages advanced diagnostic imaging procedures through a consultative, multipronged approach that provides a national model for reducing radiation exposure. HealthHelp’s programs:

• Eliminate unnecessary and improper testing,
• Provide physicians with the latest medical evidence,
• Set quality standards for imaging and radiology facilities,
• Ensure procedures are performed by qualified physicians using high-quality equipment,
• Help payers establish quality provider networks, and
• Educate patients about the benefits and risks of imaging procedures.

"While manufacturing improvements for diagnostic imaging devices are one important aspect of reducing radiation exposure, other factors that affect appropriate use, quality, and safety must also be addressed,” Dr. Hochheiser said.

According to Dr. Hiatt, the key to reducing radiation exposure lies in establishing collaborative, common-sense processes. The processes are based on widely accepted medical guidelines, employ peer-to-peer physician consultation, and rely on continuous improvement that incorporates feedback from experts and the latest medical evidence.

"Reducing radiation by limiting unnecessary and inappropriate studies can save lives,” Dr. Hiatt summarized. "To Humana’s credit, its foresight has proven prescient, as recent studies and unfortunate stories have sounded the alarm about the deleterious effects of medical radiation.”

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.3 million medical members and approximately 7.2 million specialty-benefit members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.

Over its 49-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 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

About HealthHelp^®

HealthHelp, a leader in specialty benefit management, generates significant savings and return on investment for health care payers by enhancing physician knowledge, improving quality of care, and reducing unnecessary radiation exposure. Each of its programs addresses a different aspect of diagnostic imaging, cardiology, and radiation oncology. The clients of Houston-based HealthHelp administer local, statewide, and national health care plans across the country. For more information about HealthHelp’s programs, visit www.healthhelp.com.