OHIO HEALTH CHOICE COMPLETES NETWORK INTEGRATION OF NEWLY ACQUIRED PPOs

CLEVELAND, Ohio/December 2000 - Cleveland-based Ohio Health Choice, the state's oldest preferred provider organization (PPO) and also one of its largest, has successfully integrated two newly acquired PPO networks in the Ohio Health Choice Preferred Provider Organization (OHC PPO). Last June, Ohio Health Choice purchased Prefer One, the PPO program of Central Benefits Mutual Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio and the John Alden Health Plan, the Ohio network of John Alden Life Insurance Company, a member firm of Fortis Health, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

"The addition of more than 50,000 covered lives to the Ohio Health Choice network gives us a greater negotiating power, resulting in deeper discounts and larger networks for our members," said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joan M. Mason. "The integration we've completed ensures that members of Prefer One and the John Alden Health Plan, as well as current Ohio Health Choice members, will have broader healthcare options through access to thousands of additional providers," Ms. Mason said.

According to Ms. Mason, the integrated contracts with OHC PPO will be effective January 1, 2001. As of that date, all Prefer One members will access the Ohio Health Choice PPO Network and its logo will appear on the Prefer One identification cards. All John Alden Health Plan members will access the OHC Select Health Choice network in Akron, Dayton, and Cincinnati, and the OHC PPO throughout the rest of the state. The appropriate logo will appear on John Alden Health Plan members' cards by June 1, 2001.

A single Prefer One fee schedule will continue to be used for all new Ohio Health Choice providers previously contracted with Prefer One. The current John Alden Health Plan fee schedule will continue to be used only for new Ohio Health Choice providers previously contracted with John Alden. Ms. Mason said the fee schedules that were chosen are the most widely used by both plans and should have minimal impact on providers. Current Ohio Health Choice providers will not experience any change in reimbursement.

"The growth Ohio Health Choice experienced in 2000 could not have been possible without the cooperation and support of our participating providers," Mason said. "We extend our thanks to all of the providers, new and old, that make Ohio Health Choice the premier managed care organization in the state," Ms. Mason said.

Established in 1982, Ohio Health Choice features the creation and maintenance of statewide networks of more than 170 hospitals and 22,000 physicians, along with claims repricing and comprehensive medical management programs. Ohio Health Choice is a wholly owned subsidiary of UHHS/CSAHS-Cuyahoga, Inc., a 50/50 tax-exempt corporation formed between the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Health System (CSA Health System) and University Hospitals Health System (UHHS) in June, 1999.