Ann McClanathan Named Vice President, Sales and Marketing for PacifiCare Behavioral Health.

SANTA ANA, Calif., Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- PacifiCare Behavioral Health (PBH), the managed behavioral health care subsidiary of Cypress, Calif.-based PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. , named Ann McClanathan vice president, Sales and Marketing.

She will report to PBH President and Chief Executive Officer Jerry Vaccaro, M.D., and be responsible for nationwide marketing and sales development.

McClanathan has more than 30 years' senior management experience in the behavioral health care, health insurance and hospital industries. She joins PBH from CIGNA Behavioral Health, where she served as senior vice president, Distribution, Account Services and Business Development since 2000. Previously, she served as executive vice president of Marketing and Account Services for United Behavioral Health from 1993 to 1999. She is a graduate of Ithaca College in New York and holds an MBA from Pepperdine University.

"Ann's proven track record in successfully leading the sales and marketing efforts of several of the country's largest managed behavioral health care organizations makes her the clear choice for PacifiCare Behavioral Health," said Dr. Vaccaro. "We believe she brings the relevant experience and critical thinking that will help us reach the next level as a nationally recognized leader in the behavioral health care industry."

"PacifiCare Behavioral Health's commitment to member service, its positive relationships with practitioners and its product innovations are all valuable assets in today's competitive behavioral health care marketplace," said McClanathan. "I look forward to working with my new colleagues in building on PBH's strengths and reputation as a quality leader to expand our business nationally."

About PacifiCare Behavioral Health

PacifiCare Behavioral Health (PBH) provides mental health, chemical dependency and employee assistance services to covered members and maintains a national network of behavioral health care practitioners. All three PBH Service Centers hold three-year, Full Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the most comprehensive and rigorous accrediting body for managed behavioral health care organizations. PacifiCare Behavioral Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems, with clients including health plans, union trust funds, employers, school districts, and public sector agencies. More information on PacifiCare Behavioral Health can be obtained at http://www.pbhi.com/.

About PacifiCare Health Systems

PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the nation's largest consumer health organizations with more than 3 million health plan members and approximately 9 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare offers individuals, employers and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products. Currently, more than 99 percent of PacifiCare's commercial HMO health plan members are enrolled in plans that have received Excellent Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). PacifiCare's specialty operations include behavioral health, dental and vision, and complete pharmacy and medical management through its wholly owned subsidiary, Prescription Solutions. More information on PacifiCare Health Systems is available at http://www.pacificare.com/.

CONTACT: Dagmar King of PacifiCare Behavioral Health, [phone], [e-mail]; or Dan Miller of PacifiCare Health Systems, [phone], [e-mail]

Web site: http://www.pacificare.com/

Web site: http://www.pbhi.com/