MESA, Ariz. (June 27, 2008) – UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) announced that Mesa Public Schools has received a 2008 Apex Award, an honor given to employers in recognition of exceptionally innovative health care benefits strategies.

The Arizona school system won its award in the “Affordability” category and was honored for its “MSP- WIN!” (Mesa Public Schools - Wellness Involvement Now!) campaign to enhance and expand wellness initiatives for its work force.

“Five years ago, we were a district that offered no real organized form of wellness programming for our employees,” said Andrea Billings, director, employee benefits and risk management for Mesa Public Schools.  “Since then, we have evolved into an employer that embraces every opportunity to promote healthy lifestyles and engage our employees in all aspects of their health care.”

Mesa Public Schools maintains a dedicated wellness budget – with no revenue needed from the school district – that includes annual, reduced-cost flu shots for employees, free biometric screenings, diabetic seminars, an inaugural Benefits Health Fair in 2007, seasonal wellness newsletters, continual educational campaigns and an enhanced Web site to provide employees with the most relevant, up-to-date information regarding their health and benefit offerings.

“Mesa Public Schools has developed a comprehensive wellness program that demonstrates a true commitment to improving its employees’ quality of life while reducing health care costs,” said Benton Davis, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Arizona.  “The district has put in place an exceptional array of health and well-being resources and has taken the necessary steps to assist their employees in understanding and properly utilizing their benefits – resulting in a work force that is effectively engaged in their health decisions.”

Now in its fourth year, the Apex Awards program is sponsored through UnitedHealth Group’s hub magazine, a health care publication that examines employers’ and care providers’ best practices in improving access to affordable, quality health care.  Employers of all sizes are eligible to apply for an Apex Award, which is given in four categories: Quality, Affordability, Simplification and Accessibility. 

An independent judging panel composed of leaders from across the health care industry selects the winners based on employers’ innovative approaches to a specific health care challenge.  This year’s judges praised Mesa Public Schools’ wellness efforts as “an exceptional cost-efficient program” that is “data-driven” and “will benefit school employees, students and families.”

 
Other 2008 Apex Award winners include: Cincinnati-based American Financial Group, Inc., Minneapolis-based Best Buy, New York-based IBM, Orlando-based Rosen Hotels and Resorts, the State of Ohio, Seattle-based Washington Mutual, and Memphis-based nonprofit Youth Villages.

About the Apex Award
The Apex Award is an annual award sponsored by UnitedHealth Group’s hub magazine, which is published three times a year and distributed to more than 27,000 employers, consultants/brokers and thought leaders in the health care industry.  Its mission is to promote a national dialogue on how these groups are helping advance accessibility, quality, simplicity and affordability in health care.  For more information, visit www.hubmagazine.net.

About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better.  Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through seven operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, Uniprise, OptumHealth, Ingenix and Prescription Solutions.  Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 70 million individuals nationwide.

About Mesa Public Schools
Mesa Public Schools is a full-service district comprised of 87 schools, including 58 elementary schools, 13 junior high schools, seven high schools and nine focus schools.  MPS is an innovative, award-winning district that is recognized nationally for student achievement in academics, sports, creative and performing arts, and career and technical programs.