2008-07-16 23:51:11 -

- AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare has made several key clinical appointments in preparation for expanding its TennCare Medicaid services in West and East Tennessee.

Eric Paul, CEO of the health plan, which currently serves more than 180,000 TennCare beneficiaries in Middle Tennessee and manages TennCare services for an additional 83,000 members in East Tennessee, announced the appointment of Dr. Elizabeth

Cato as Associate Medical Director and Dr. Tricia Lea as Vice President, Behavioral Health Services.

Dr. Cato, an internist by training, has extensive experience as a practicing physician in the Nashville area and as a health plan executive. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., and earned her medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Dr. Lea was most recently Director of Medical and Behavioral Services for the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, a position she held for the past six years. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology from Wake Forest University and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Iowa.

Mr. Paul said, "The appointment of these experienced professionals strengthens our ability to provide high quality services to our current and prospective members throughout the state. Their proven ability to work directly with consumers, providers, community-based organizations and government agencies will greatly facilitate the delivery and coordination of the vital services we offer members of AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare."

About AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare

AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare currently serves the TennCare Medicaid program in Middle and East Tennessee. It was recently awarded contracts by the state to expand its operations in East Tennessee beginning next January 1, and to begin serving the TennCare program in West Tennessee next November 1. AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare is a unit of AmeriChoice, the UnitedHealth Group company that serves more than 2.1 million members of state government health care programs in 22 states. AmeriChoice is a diversified health services company dedicated to helping states, localities, and other government agencies facilitate care for the economically impoverished, the medically underserved and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. For more information, visit www.americhoice.com.

AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare
Steven Matthews, 212-898-8428
smatthews@uhc.com