Care Choices Receives Award for "Exemplary Care Management of Chronic Conditions "

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., July 26, 2002 - For the second straight year, the Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) recognized Care Choices during the group's annual Pinnacle Awards program. MAHP sponsors the awards program to recognize the vital role that managed care organizations play in providing quality health care to Michiganders. The awards honor initiatives designed to improve quality in internal administration, clinical disease management, delivery of programs/services, and community outreach.

This year, MAHP created a new category of awards - Exemplary Award for Best Practices - to honor quality programs they felt deserved special recognition. Care Choices picked up the award for "Exemplary Care Management of Chronic Conditions."

In making the announcement, MAHP said, "The judge's panel wishes to recognize Care Choices HMO for its exemplary care management of chronic conditions. The plan's understanding of the devastating burden of chronic illness on its membership speaks to its commitment to the principles of managed care of preventive services, member and provider education and disease management to ensure the best possible health outcomes for its members."

Care Choices also received recognition in the Meritorious Awards category for the following initiatives:

• Interactive Voice Response and Internet depression screen tool - a program aimed at improving early detection and treatment of members with depression
• Prenatal tobacco cessation program - a comprehensive Quit Tobacco Program designed for women planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant or who have recently had a baby.
• Fit Kids, Healthy Future program - promoting physical fitness to fight what some experts consider to be one of the greatest medical risks faced by American children today - childhood obesity, which has been linked to an increased risk of Type II diabetes.

In addition, Care Choices was among several health plans that were honored in the Community/Outreach Partnership category for their participation in the following "Multiple Plans" initiatives:

• Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium
• Michigan Interplan Behavioral Health Work Group
• Taking on Tobacco in Michigan

"We are very proud to have been recognized for our efforts in providing quality programs that make a difference in the lives of our members," said William R. Alvin, president and CEO of Care Choices.

Care Choices is a nonprofit health care organization and a subsidiary of Trinity Health, one of the nation's leading providers of health care services. Since 1986, Care Choices has been providing quality health care to thousands of members throughout Michigan. Care Choices offers a broad, fully integrated network of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals all sharing a strong commitment to improving the health status of the communities we serve by delivering effective and affordable health care. Care Choices HMO maintains the highest rating available of Excellent by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).