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LewisGale Regional Health System to Participate in New Commercial Health Insurance Plans Being Launched by Aetna, Inc.

October 25, 2011

Salem, VA, October 25, 2011 – LewisGale Regional Health System (LGRHS) announced today that it will be a participating provider in the new commercial health insurance plans that Aetna is introducing this fall to Southwest Virginia employers. The new commercial products fall under the name Aetna Whole Health™.

The new commercial insurance plans will give participants full access to LewisGale Regional Health System, including inpatient, outpatient, and primary care services at all four hospitals — LewisGale Medical Center, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, LewisGale Hospital Pulaski, and LewisGale Hospital Alleghany -- as well as eight outpatient centers and 700 employed and affiliated physicians.

“While LewisGale Regional Health System has been a provider for Aetna members for many years, our participation in these new plans underscores the fact that our presence in the marketplace is growing,” said Victor Giovanetti, President of LGRHS. “Employers and patients want value for their healthcare dollar. We’re committed to delivering not only outstanding clinical care, but also a superior hospital experience.”

“Employers want access to insurance plans that give their employees the option of using either LewisGale Regional Health System or Carilion Clinic for their health care,” said Becky Pollard, president of Business Solutions, an insurance brokerage firm that serves nearly 600 groups in the Roanoke Valley. “They place a great deal of importance on having choice and flexibility when selecting a physician or a healthcare facility.”

LGRHS currently partners with more than 100 companies throughout Southwest Virginia, providing onsite wellness programs that include health screenings, education programs, health fairs, and flu shots. The health system is currently in the process of expanding those offers to new and existing clients with onsite clinics, through its partnership with LivingWell.

“Aetna is very excited to be working with the LewisGale Regional Health System to offer new commercial health plans to people in the Roanoke area,” said Tom Grote, Aetna’s president for the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. markets. “LewisGale is a prominent health care system in the region, and its hospitals and doctors are highly valued in the community. We look forward to working with them as we seek to grow our business in Roanoke.”

About LewisGale Regional Health System
LewisGale Regional Health System includes 38 HCA-owned patient care facilities including 4 hospitals, 2 regional cancer centers, 6 outpatient centers and affiliations with nearly 700 physicians, including 135 employed providers and 550 independent physicians. With more than 3,300 employees, its annual payroll is $219.5 million. The system also paid $28.4 million in taxes and provided more than $73.5 million in uncompensated care to those most in need in 2009 alone. LewisGale is also part of HCA Virginia, the largest and most comprehensive healthcare provider in the Commonwealth with more than 13,000 employees.

LewisGale Regional Health System has been highly rated by the nation’s leading health reports, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and Healthgrades®. The Joint Commission’s recently ranked LGRHS hospitals among the top 14 percent in the nation for important measures of care, including heart attack, stroke, pneumonia, and surgical care. For more information, log onto www.lewisgale.com.