Louisville, Ky. (January 5, 2006) – SHPS, a leading Integrated Health Management provider, announced today it is the first company to earn full accreditation for the new consumer education and support standards from URAC, a Washington, D.C.-based healthcare accrediting organization that establishes quality criteria for the healthcare industry. URAC developed the consumer education and support standards to address the growing role of consumers in the healthcare decision-making process.

“By applying for and receiving URAC accreditation, SHPS has demonstrated a commitment to quality healthcare,” said Charles Stellar, URAC board chair. “Quality healthcare is crucial to our nation’s welfare and it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards.”

URAC’s consumer education and support standards are defined on two levels: giving consumers the information they need to choose a health plan, and once enrolled, giving them information to better manage their own healthcare.

SHPS led the way in earning the new accreditation based on the use of its internal resources and available websites to help healthcare consumers manage their health throughout the healthcare continuum. The specific areas addressed by the accreditation include, but are not limited to, the company’s ability to:

• provide consumers decision tools with practice guidelines and cost information;
• offer personal health assessment tools for things such as prevention and wellness;
• present information in different languages and formats; and
• provide information to individuals with cognitive or physical impairments.

Accreditation also requires compliance with URAC’s core standards for key functions such as organizational structure, staff qualifications, training and management, regulatory compliance, quality management and consumer protection.

“We’re proud to be the first health management provider to receive the new consumer education and support approval from such a highly respected peer group such as URAC,” said Keith Stoneback, SHPS’ president, healthcare services. “Our mission is to empower employees to make wiser decisions about their health, and they can only do that by having the proper tools and information. This accreditation validates SHPS commitment to being a leader in the consumer-driven healthcare market.”

SHPS is also accredited by URAC for health utilization management, disease management, workers’ compensation management, case management, health call center, and is currently in the accreditation process for the HIPAA privacy accreditation.

SHPS’ consumer education and support standards accreditation is effective through October 2007.

About URAC
URAC, an independent, non-profit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting healthcare quality through its accreditation and certification programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the healthcare system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire healthcare industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

About SHPS
SHPS provides a broad range of innovative health management tools, resources and services that empower consumers to make wise healthcare decisions. With comprehensive services that transform consumer health behaviors, SHPS’ integrated delivery system maximizes the value of consumers’ and employers’ healthcare dollars. Among its many clients, SHPS serves large and mid-sized employers, health insurance carriers, third party administrators, Medicare Part D providers and government agencies. The company employs registered nurses and health professionals, employee benefit specialists and IT experts in facilities across the United States. Visit www.shps.com.

For More Information
Sarah Bovine
Director, Corporate Communications
sarah.bovine@shps.com

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