LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) today
issued a statement affirming its commitment to providing quality affordable
health care for its health plan members -- including those in need of heart
transplants.
    "Humana has always strived to assure that no covered beneficiary was
denied a medically appropriate heart transplant.  We have demonstrated a
record of integrity and innovation in the area of heart transplantation," said
Humana corporate spokesman Greg Donaldson.  "Humana offers heart transplants
as a standard benefit of Humana health plans."
    In 1996, Humana approved 46 heart transplants and denied none.  Humana
transplants are performed at nationally recognized transplant centers,
including Johns Hopkins, the UCLA Medical Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in
St. Louis and the Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago.
    "We believe in providing the right care, at the right time, in the right
setting," said Dr. Jerry Reeves, MD, Humana Chief Medical Officer.  "All
health care professionals should be held accountable for the quality of the
services they provide."
    Humana provides an exhaustive appeals process for health plan members who
believe they may have been denied care for any reason.  This process is
intended to protect the rights of health plan members.  Humana's quality
management program is an award-winning industry leader.  The National
Committee for Quality Assurance has so far accredited nine Humana health
plans.
    Humana believes that the kind of coordinated care the company offers can
improve quality of life and save lives.  "Ours is a better way to deliver
health care," said Dr. Reeves.  "We believe in partnering with patients and
physicians to improve health.  This means improving quality through
accountability, supporting informed decisions by patients, supplying
affordable care and providing choices among well-qualified physicians.  At
Humana, we are committed to putting patients first."
    Humana's statement comes in response to a story told by Kentucky physician
Dr. Linda Peeno about a heart transplant request 10-years ago.  Dr. Peeno, in
news reports, has been quoted as recalling that, while working for Humana, she
recommended non-payment for a heart transplant for an unnamed patient who she
believes subsequently died.  According to news reports, Dr. Peeno has
expressed concerns about her past association with various coordinated health
care companies.
    "Humana believes it is inappropriate to debate today's health care
concerns on the basis of 10-year old stories," said Donaldson.  "We believe
this debate is far too vital to be framed outside the context of current
medical knowledge."
    Dr. Peeno has not provided the news media with the specific details of the
alleged case in question or the name of the patient.  As a result, Humana has
been unable to properly investigate the facts of the case.

    Humana's review of the records indicates:
    -- Dr. Peeno was not a Humana employee.  She served as a part-time
       consultant.  She averaged 15 hours a week of work for a period of less
       than nine months before resigning her position in 1987.  She was paid a
       flat hourly rate and received no incentive compensation for any
       activity.
    -- Some news accounts have implied that Dr. Peeno might have served as a
       medical director for Humana and that she was paid six figures for her
       work.  She was not a medical director for Humana.  In her short tenure
       as a part-time contractor with the company, she earned less than
       $30,000.
    -- News reports have indicated that Dr. Peeno may have been rewarded for
       her claims denials by Humana.  As a part-time consultant, she received
       no additional financial reward based on any recommendations.

    Headquartered in Louisville, Ky., Humana provides coordinated health care
products and services to more than 4.7 million health plan members, making it
one of the nation's largest health care companies.

    Humana's Web site is http://www.humana.com

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