UnitedHealthcare and Cancer Treatment Centers of America Announce New Multi-Year Agreement
UnitedHealthcare Options PPO members have access to all Cancer Treatment Centers of America physicians and facilities, including Tulsa hospital
TULSA, Okla. (July 23, 2009) - UnitedHealthcare and Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) announced a new multi-year agreement that will expand health care options and accessibility for many cancer patients at all four CTCA facilities, including its Tulsa-based hospital serving patients in the southwestern United States.
The new agreement, effective July 1, 2009, provides UnitedHealthcare Options PPO customers access to more than 330 physicians across CTCA's four affiliated cancer treatment facilities. CTCA serves patients with advanced cancer at facilities located in Tulsa, as well as suburban Phoenix, Philadelphia, and suburban Chicago
"This is a welcome choice for cancer patients," said Kimberly Perrin of Washington, D.C., a UnitedHealthcare plan participant who is being treated at CTCA. "Cancer patients need increased access to quality cancer care and more options when it comes to choosing a hospital that is right for each of us."
UnitedHealthcare Options PPO customers can call the number on the back of their UnitedHealthcare member identification card to verify they have access to the CTCA facilities. Cancer patients may also call 888-353-7687 to speak with a CTCA oncology information specialist for access verification.
"This is very good news for consumers throughout the Southwest," said Tom Quirk, CEO, UnitedHealthcare North Texas and Oklahoma. "The addition of CTCA to UnitedHealthcare's broad national network gives our customers increased choice and access to affordable, quality health care in the Southwestern region."
The agreement is consistent with UnitedHealthcare's longstanding commitment to promote evidence-based decision-making, and aims to benefit employers and employees alike by promoting consistent, high-quality care.
"Our new agreement with UnitedHealthcare will enable more patients to access our fully integrated, individualized model of cancer care," said Steve Mackin, president and CEO of CTCA at Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa. "At CTCA, we strive to empower patients as advocates and decision-makers. Giving patients and their families more cancer care options extends that commitment to patient empowerment."
"Cancer patients deserve choice, access and quality when it comes to medical decisions; among the most important decisions they'll make in their lives," said Dr. Edgar D. Staren, senior vice president for clinical affairs and chief medical officer at CTCA.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare (www.unitedhealthcare.com) provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies. The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of more than 25 million individual consumers, contracting directly with approximately 590,000 physicians and care professionals and more than 4,900 hospitals to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals providing a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment. CTCA serves patients with complex cancer from all 50 states at facilities located in suburban Chicago, Philadelphia, Tulsa and suburban Phoenix. Known for delivering the Mother Standard® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine®, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. For more information about CTCA, go to www.cancercenter.com.
