ADVISORY/HMO Research Network Conference in Atlanta, Ga. April 4-5, 2000.

News/Assignment Writers

ADVISORY...for Tuesday and Wednesday (April 4 and 5)

--(BW HealthWire)

TO:         Writers, Producers, News Editors

FROM:       Laura H. Marshall, National Media Relations
            Kaiser Permanente Program Offices
            510-271-5826/pager 888-731-8636
            e mail:  [e-mail]

              Researchers from a dozen respected healthcare
            organizations will meet for two days in Atlanta next week
            to discuss the issues they face and topics of recent
            research projects at the HMO Research Network Conference.

WHO:        The Network is composed of research investigators,
            directors, and other clinical and administrative personnel
            from health maintenance organizations that conduct their
            own clinical research. Members include 6 research
            divisions of Kaiser Permanente -- Northern and Southern
            California, Colorado, Hawaii, Georgia, and the Northwest
            Region. HealthPartners Research Foundation, Group Health
            Cooperative of Puget Sound, the Henry Ford Health System,
            Fallon Health Care, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, the
            Lovelace Clinic Foundation and the USQA Center for Health
            Care Research are also involved in the effort to share
            resources and facilitate research projects conducted by
            health plans.

WHAT:       Two days of discussion of research issues and presentation
            of new clinical study results. Some topics: ethical
            issues, research involving child subjects, collaboration
            on economic support, current research topics in managed
            care; presentations on the Role of Health Professionals in
            Identifying Problem Drinkers; Evaluating Telephone Nurse
            Advice Services; Complementary and Alternative Medicines;
            and Substance Abuse in pregnant women and results of
            treatment and other recent research.

WHERE:      Atlanta Ga. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 3300 Peachtree Rd. A
            press room will be available for interviews.

WHEN:       April 4th and 5th, 2000: 1pm to 5pm Tuesday, 8:30 to 4pm
            Wednesday.

              The conference will be followed by a second two-day
            conference on research and managed care: Building Bridges
            VI, "The Road to Quality Care; Using Research to Drive
            Quality Improvement." Building Bridges is sponsored by the
            American Association of Health Plans, the Agency for
            Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease
            Control, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

              For information or materials on either conference, contact
            Laura Marshall at Kaiser Permanente, 510-271-5826 or pager
            888-731-8636, Susan Pisano at the American Association of
            Health Plans at 202-778-3245, or Jill Griffiths
            (215-775-6890) or Jennifer King (215-775-3435) at USQA
            Center for Health Care Research.