Louisville, Ky. (August 25, 2005) SHPS, an Integrated Health Management provider based in Louisville, Ky., officially launched today an innovative disease management product, CareWise Personal Health Management, that blends state-of-the-art technology, expert nursing intervention and behavioral modification techniques for middle-market employers (approximately 1,000 5,000 employees) a marketplace previously underserved by disease management programs.

SHPS, who has traditionally administered its disease management product mainly to large employee populations, built the new product in response to the large number of mid-sized employers and brokers interested in care management strategies. SHPS healthcare experts also will conduct broker education seminars and offer extensive sales support.

The time has come for mid-sized employers to have access to a disease management product of this quality, said Jeff Rosenblum, SHPS senior vice president of business development, middle market services. Disease management programs have proven to encourage healthy living and reduce healthcare costs. SHPS is pleased to lead the effort in expanding this product offering to a new market segment.

Statistics show that while patients with chronic conditions usually comprise just 15 to 20 percent of a given companys employee population, they generate roughly 70 percent of its medical costs. SHPS new disease management solution is designed to help employees improve their long-term health and the employers bottom line by managing health conditions more effectively, while also increasing employee morale and productivity.

CareWise Personal Health Management uniquely serves the total chronic condition population not just high-risk participants with a product that uses behavioral change techniques to address disease conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and congestive heart failure.

CareWise empowers SHPS deep bench of talented nurses with sophisticated technology that allows them to do what they do best: use their clinical expertise and experience to coach individuals with chronic conditions, said Rosenblum. The product is further enhanced by extensive communication and personalized materials to keep employees healthy and move chronic participants on the road to good health.

SHPS brings solid disease management experience and technical capability to this new market from its experience providing Fortune 1000 employers with care management services for more than 20 years. The company earned accreditation from the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) for its large-employer disease management program in 1998 and sat on the peer advisory committee that helped pioneer the accreditation standards.

Last year SHPS acquired Landacorp, Inc., named each year since 2001 as one of the top 12 disease management providers (out of 160) by the independent non-profit Health Industries Research Companies. The listing is based on an extensive set of criteria, including revenue, member enrollment, program adherence, disease states addressed, reputation in the marketplace and significance of health plan partnerships. The acquisition helped build the foundation for development of SHPS fully integrated disease management product suite.

SHPS new disease management product is available to employers immediately for implementation on Jan. 1, 2006.

About SHPS | Carewise Health
SHPS is a leading, independent provider of integrated health solutions that improve personal health and reduce spending. By integrating traditional health management and benefits administration services, SHPS delivers people-centric solutions that empower individuals to make wise healthcare choices. It serves large and mid-sized employers, government agencies, and third-party administrators through the company’s Carewise Health, Landacorp, and SHPS brands. Visit www.carewisehealth.com.

For More Information
LeAnn Ross
Director of Marketing
leann.ross@shps.com

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