Care Choices HMO Achieves Highest Ratings in National Report Card

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., September 16, 2004 – Care Choices HMO has received the highest ratings available in a health plan report card published September 15, 2004 by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an independent, not-for profit organization dedicated to measuring the quality of America’s health care. Care Choices received four stars – the highest rating available – in each of the five categories of the NCQA Health Plan Report Card: Access and Service; Qualified Providers; Staying Healthy; Getting Better; and Living With Illness. Care Choices has held NCQA’s highest accreditation status of “Excellent” from for four years.

“This recognition by NCQA underscores the ongoing commitment of our employees, physicians, hospitals and other provider partners to providing excellent care and service to our members,” said William R. Alvin, president and CEO of Care Choices.

NCQA’s Health Plan Report Card helps consumers make informed decisions about their health care. Consumers can log on to www.ncqa.org to view report cards of more than 200 commercial health plans across the country. The report card ratings are based on a set of NCQA requirements that cover a full spectrum of services and clinical care, from checking doctors’ qualifications to delivering care that helps people maintain good health and avoid illness.

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 Southeast 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 holds a B+ financial-strength rating from A.M. Best Co.