Care Choices HMO Recognized Among the Top 5 Health Plans for Clinical Excellence in East North Central Region of the U.S.; Only Plan in Michigan to be Recognized by NCQA

Also Rated #1 Health Plan for Member Satisfaction in Southeast Michigan

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., September 18, 2003 - Care Choices HMO has been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as among the top five plans in the East North Central Region of the U.S., for clinical performance based on HEDIS® Effectiveness of Care measures. NCQA's East North Central Region includes 71 health plans in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Care Choices was the only plan in Michigan to be recognized. The recognition comes on the heels of NCQA's reaffirmation earlier this month of Care Choices "Excellent" accreditation status based on its annual review of the plan's HEDIS (Health Plans Employer and Data Information Set) scores. Care Choices HMO has held an "Excellent" accreditation status for four years.

In addition to its recognition for clinical excellence, Care Choices HMO offers the highest member satisfaction ratings of health plans in Southeast Michigan* according to NCQA's Quality Compass® 2003 report. Care Choices HMO received Southeast Michigan's highest member ratings in the "Rating of Health Plan" and "Rating of Health Care" satisfaction measures. The same survey also indicated that members rate Care Choices as the top health plan in Southeast Michigan in the categories of Doctor Communications, Courteous and Helpful Office Staff, Getting Care Quickly, and Claims Processing.

"We, in partnership with our providers, have been working hard to make Care Choices the best health plan in our area," said William R. Alvin, President and CEO of Care Choices. "This recognition by NCQA underscores the commitment of our employees, physicians, hospitals and other provider partners to providing excellent care and service to our members. Our vision is to make a difference in the health and well being of the lives we touch. This recognition indicates we are doing so."

According to NCQA's Quality Compass 2003 report, Care Choices HMO received "Best in Class" designation for "health plan performance that NCQA believes represents a benchmark" for other health plans in three areas of HEDIS. It was also the number one plan in Southeast Michigan for each of these same three measures:

• Comprehensive Diabetes Care - HbA1c control
• Use of Appropriate Medications for People With Asthma, Ages 5-9: and
• Breast Cancer Screening

In addition, Care Choices was the number one plan in Southeast Michigan and among the best in the nation in the following HEDIS measures:

• Cholesterol Management After a Heart Attack-control (#17 in the nation)
• Comprehensive Diabetes Care - HbA1c testing (#17 in the nation) and monitoring diabetic nephropathy (#19 in the nation)
• Use of Appropriate Medications for People with Asthma, Combined Age (#10 in the nation)
• Antidepressant Medication Management - practitioner contacts (#27 in the nation)
• Adolescent Immunizations - combo 1
• Adult Access to Preventive/Ambulatory Health Services (ages 20-44, 45-64 and 65+)

"We are committed to helping all members improve their health and quality of life," said Gilbert Burgos, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer of Care Choices. "A number of factors contributed to Care Choices clinical performance including outreach, education and care management initiatives," said Burgos. "For example, since we began our programs for diabetes and asthma, we have seen an improvement of more than 10 percentage points in key quality-of-care measures. Committed and involved physicians are key to attaining such results," said Burgos.

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 maintains the highest rating available of "Excellent" by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and holds a B+ financial-strength rating from A.M. Best Co.

*Of the plans serving the entire five-county metro area including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston counties.

The source for data contained in this publication is Quality Compass® 2003 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Any analysis, interpretation or conclusion based on this data is solely that of the authors, and the NCQA specifically disclaims responsibility for any such analysis, interpretation or conclusion. Quality Compass and HEDIS are registered trademarks of the NCQA.