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Company's Programs Guide Individuals to the Most Effective Care,Treatment and Lifestyle Choices
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. (February 22, 2010) — OptumHealth Inc. announced today that its Wellness Coaching and Health Care Decision Support solutions have been awarded new accreditations from URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization that promotes health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.
OptumHealth's Wellness Coaching solutions received URAC's full Comprehensive Wellness Accreditation. OptumHealth's Health Care Decision Support solutions received the URAC Consumer Education Support Accreditation for NurseLineSM, Benefits and Claims Support, Access Support and Treatment Decision Support programs.
"By applying for and receiving URAC accreditation, OptumHealth has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care," said Alan P. Spielman, URAC president and CEO. "Quality health care is crucial to our nation's welfare, and so it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards and undergo rigorous evaluation by an independent accrediting body."
OptumHealth Wellness Coaching and Health Care Decision Support programs are designed to guide people through a complex and fragmented health care system. The programs help individuals find the right providers, medications, treatment options and lifestyle choices as they make important decisions about their health.
OptumHealth's support programs have consistently proven to deliver positive results. For example, more than 63 percent of individuals who have participated in OptumHealth Wellness Coaching have achieved weight loss. In addition, in a recent assessment of calls to OptumHealth's NurseLine, more than 70 percent of callers intending to address a health concern at the emergency room ultimately chose an alternate, clinically appropriate treatment option after consulting with an OptumHealth nurse.
"We are committed to developing solutions that not only enable individuals to make their best health care decisions at the time of need, but also guide them to the best resources available for a lifestyle of healthy behaviors," said Todd Spaulding, vice president of OptumHealth Care Solutions. "These accreditations validate our mission to help consumers live their lives to the fullest."
About OptumHealth
OptumHealth Inc. helps individuals navigate the health care system, finance their health care needs and achieve their health and well-being goals. The company's personalized health advocacy and engagement programs tap a unique combination of capabilities that encompass care solutions, behavioral solutions, specialty benefits and financial services. Serving more than 60 million people, OptumHealth is one of the nation's largest health and wellness businesses and is a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company. More information about OptumHealth can be found at www.optumhealth.com.
About URAC
URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and certification programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC strives to ensure that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.
Media contact:
Molly McMillen
OptumHealth Senior Manager, External Communications
(763) 797-4559
molly.mcmillen@optumhealth.com | 
