Bravo Health and WellMed Partner to Expand Healthcare Options to More Seniors in Texas

Partnership to Be Implemented in San Antonio and El Paso


HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - Jul 18, 2011) - HealthSpring, and WellMed Networks Inc. (WNI), the contracting entity for WellMed Medical Management, today announced a joint partnership to extend access to WellMed healthcare services to Bravo Health (a HealthSpring company) beneficiaries in the San Antonio and El Paso markets. WellMed is a diversified healthcare company and health plan provider serving more than 90,000 patients and plan members, primarily Medicare-eligible seniors.

"WellMed and Bravo Health are like-minded in our mission to provide Medicare-eligible patients with high quality, proactive patient care with a distinct focus on prevention," said Dr. Carlos Hernandez, President of WellMed Medical Group, "Working together will greatly strengthen our ability to change the face of healthcare delivery for seniors in Texas."

The partnership means that independent physicians served by WellMed Medical Management -- and providers at 24 WellMed Medical Group clinics -- in these Texas markets will accept plan members of Bravo Health - a HealthSpring company.

WNI previously contracted under exclusive agreements with healthcare payers in each Texas market, but is now expanding its healthcare delivery system to include members associated with other payers.

"We're pleased to join together with industry leader WellMed to offer enhanced healthcare options to Bravo Health members in San Antonio and El Paso," said Jay L. Hurt, President of Bravo Health Texas. "Bravo Health is committed to providing access to the most comprehensive Medicare benefits, and this partnership will help us meet that objective for our members in these markets."

The partnership between WellMed and Bravo Health is planned for launch in Fall 2011.

Current Bravo Health members interested in learning more about WellMed may call Bravo Health Customer Service at 1-800-291-0396 and Medicare-eligible seniors interested in learning more about WellMed may call Bravo Health Sales Department at 1-866-584-4822. Providers interested in learning more about WellMed may call toll-free at 1-888-781-9355, ext. 3010 or e-mail an inquiry to recruiting@wellmed.net.

About WellMed
WellMed Medical Management Inc. is a diversified healthcare company serving more than 90,000 patients in Texas and Florida. WellMed is an industry leader in medical risk management, highly effective disease management and chronic care programs, healthcare delivery services, and more. To learn more, visit www.wellmedmedicalgroup.com.

About Bravo Health - a HealthSpring Company
Bravo Health - a HealthSpring Company is a subsidiary of HealthSpring, one of the country's largest Medicare Advantage coordinated care plans. HealthSpring provides the Bravo Health plan to members in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and some Texas markets. HealthSpring is based in Nashville, Tenn., and currently owns and operates Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C. HealthSpring also offers a national stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan. For more information, visit www.bravohealth.com. Media information is available at HealthSpring's press site: http://press.healthspring.com.