MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® announced an agreement with UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company (UniCare) that will provide UniCare members access to comprehensive hospice services in every market in which VITAS operates.

"UniCare and VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® both exemplify extraordinary experience in healthcare,"? says Tim O'Toole, VITAS chief executive officer. "We have great respect for the progressive record of accomplishment UniCare has earned in working to promote quality health care services for its members. This agreement will help to ensure that VITAS continues to meet the ever-increasing demand for quality, compassionate care at the end of life.

"In these days of skyrocketing healthcare costs, hospice remains a compassionate, comprehensive and cost-efficient choice for those who seek to maximize quality of life when they have a limited time to live,"? he adds. "Now, the families of UniCare will have access to these same choices in care at the end of life."?

"We are pleased to announce this agreement with VITAS, which has long been recognized as a leader when it comes to hospice care,"? said Paul Beckman, vice president of health services for UniCare. "Especially important is that individuals and families insured by UniCare across the country will have access to these critical services when they're needed most."?


VITAS provides quality compassionate end-of-life care for adult and pediatric patients with a wide range of life-limiting illnesses, including but not limited to cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, liver disease, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and AIDS. VITAS cares for patients and their loved ones in major metro areas in California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

UniCare members will have access to the full range of hospice services through VITAS, benefiting from VITAS' record of accomplishment as one of the nation's oldest and largest hospice providers. Hospice coverage for UniCare members will include all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, medical equipment and supplies required to treat the patient's life-limiting illness. All four levels of hospice care - routine home care, Intensive Comfort Care^SM (called Continuous Care by Medicare), General Inpatient Care and Respite Care - will be covered for UniCare members.

As a pioneer in the hospice movement, VITAS clinical experts over the years have significantly advanced the hospice body of knowledge. Nearly 20 VITAS clinicians have authored and edited one of the definitive texts on hospice, 20 Common Problems in End-of-Life Care. VITAS clinicians also have developed a proprietary pain formulary, wound care guide, analgesic dosage conversion ruler and an extensive library of educational materials for families and healthcare professionals. VITAS grief and bereavement experts have published two handbooks, Children & Grief and Teens & Grief, to assist caregivers in understanding their children's grieving process and how to help children handle their grief appropriately. VITAS experts have developed the proprietary Vx patient information management system and a new electronic patient record, Vx CarePlanIT.

About UniCare

UniCare is a national organization dedicated to the delivery of quality health care plans and products, working together with its customers, consultants, brokers, providers and employers. Providing managed care and specialty health care services throughout the United States, UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company is a subsidiary of WellPoint.

WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE:WLP www.wellpoint.com) is the largest health benefits company in terms of medical membership in the United States.

UniCare offers a comprehensive array of health care plans and specialty products that preserve member choice at competitive prices. UniCare recognizes that what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

About VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®, a pioneer and leader in the hospice movement since 1978, is one of the nation's largest providers of end-of-life care. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, VITAS (pronounced VEE-tahs) operates 45 hospice programs in 16 states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin). VITAS employs 9,191 professionals who care for terminally ill patients daily, primarily in the patients' homes, but also in the company's 25 inpatient hospice units as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities/residential care facilities for the elderly. At the conclusion of the first quarter of 2009, VITAS reported an average daily census of 11,805.


Listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: VITAS Healthcare and Roto-Rooter.

For more information about VITAS' National Accounts initiatives, contact: Kal Mistry, Chief Administrative Officer/SVP, at 305.350.5990.

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®

Kal Mistry, Chief Administrative Officer/Senior Vice President

305-350-5990

or

Megan Carella, APR, Public Relations Editor, 352-560-3415



Source: VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®