Health Choice Arizona, Inc. Awarded New Contract

FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IASIS Healthcare® LLC (“IASIS”) announced today that Health Choice Arizona, Inc. (“Health Choice”), IASIS’ prepaid Medicaid and Medicare managed health plan in Phoenix, Arizona, has been awarded a new contract from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (“AHCCCS”), the state agency that administers Arizona’s Medicaid program. Health Choice’s existing contract with AHCCCS expires September 30, 2008. The new contract continues to give Health Choice a state wide presence and provides for a three-year term commencing October 1, 2008, with AHCCCS having the option to renew for two additional one-year periods. The new contract covers Medicaid members in the following Arizona counties: Apache, Coconino, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo and Pima counties, which are counties covered by Health Choice’s existing contract, as well as Yuma, LaPaz and Santa Cruz counties, which are new counties awarded to Health Choice in the recent bid process.
IASIS, located in Franklin, Tennessee, is a leading owner and operator of medium-sized acute care hospitals in high-growth urban and suburban markets. The Company operates its hospitals with a strong community focus by offering and developing healthcare services targeted to the needs of the markets it serves, promoting strong relationships with physicians and working with local managed care plans. IASIS owns or leases 16 acute care hospital facilities and one behavioral health hospital facility with a total of 2,770 beds in service and has total annual net revenue of approximately $1.9 billion. These hospital facilities are located in six regions: Salt Lake City, Utah; Phoenix, Arizona; Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida; three cities in Texas, including San Antonio; Las Vegas, Nevada; and West Monroe, Louisiana. IASIS also owns and operates a Medicaid and Medicare managed health plan in Phoenix that serves over 129,000 members.