Ingenix Makes Market-Leading Episode Treatment Groups

Launches website, invites comment to advance development of national health care measurement standards

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN (March 10, 2009) –

Today Ingenix, a leader in health information solutions, announced that it has published its market-leading Episode Treatment Groups (ETG®) health care measurement methodology for public review and input. The announcement was made at the National Pay for Performance Summit in San Francisco.

President Obama has challenged the health care industry to improve quality of care while reducing costs. The stimulus bill’s injection of more than $25 billion into the US health care system makes the need for performance measures more urgent than ever.

Today Ingenix made a widely accepted means of health care measurement transparent, and an unprecedented call for public input. Ingenix believes that meaningful engagement from multiple constituents is essential for developing industry-wide measures that are standard and trusted.

Full ETG methodology and supporting educational materials are available for review at Ingenix.com/transparency.

ETG methodology organizes related health services into a medically relevant and distinct measurement unit describing an episode of care. Today more than 300 health organizations in the US use ETG methodology to measure clinical outcomes and reward physicians who provide high-quality and cost-efficient care.

Said Andy Slavitt, chief executive officer of Ingenix, “Today’s announcement is a reflection of our support for health measurement efforts that will drive reform. Making our ETG methodology available to the public has the potential to advance health care’s ability to speak a common measurement language. This is essential for developing nationally-accepted standards that reward the medical community for high quality and efficient care, and enable value-based purchasing.”

Dr. Dogu Celebi, chief medical officer at Ingenix explained, “Physicians need greater insight and input into the criteria by which they are measured. As such, key methodologies for measuring cost and quality of care should be transparent. Industry standards for measuring value must be selected and refined based on public dialogue, which Ingenix aims to inform.”

Ingenix plans to make additional leading measurement methodologies transparent and available for review in the coming months.

About Ingenix
Ingenix, a wholly owned subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), transforms organizations and improves health care through information and technology. Organizations rely on its innovative products, services and consulting to improve the delivery and operations of their business. More information about Ingenix can be obtained at www.ingenix.com.

Source: Ingenix