CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield to Outline Aggressive, New Multi-Million Dollar Plan to Fulfill Not-for-Profit Mission.

During a program launch in Washington, D.C. and special legislative briefings in Annapolis, Maryland on Tuesday, January 18th, executives and board members of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield will unveil "CareFirst Commitment", a multi-million dollar strategy designed to keep coverage affordable for its members and broaden CareFirst's regional role in improving health care accessibility, quality and safety.

Details of the strategy -- including specific financial commitments, programs and action items -- will be released and explained during the program launch and legislative briefings. Primary areas of focus around "CareFirst Commitment" include:

--Keeping CareFirst health care affordable for current members while also increasing access to affordable health care throughout its service area

--Improving health care quality and safety

--Improving response to meeting the special health care needs of increasingly diverse communities

News professionals are invited to attend a post-briefing Q&A session in Annapolis, Maryland where they will have an opportunity to talk with CareFirst executives and board leadership about "CareFirst Commitment" and its specific goals and objectives.

9:00 AM                                 11:30 AM
"CareFirst Commitment"                  Maryland House, Health
Program Launch                          & Government Operations
840 1st Street NE                       Committee Briefing
Union Center Plaza                      Lowe House Office Building
Washington, D.C.                        Annapolis, Maryland

1:00 PM                                 2:15 PM
Maryland Senate Finance                 Q&A/Interview Opportunity
Committee Briefing                      54 State Circle
Miller Senate Office Building           Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland

                             Participants
Michael R.  Merson, CareFirst, Inc. Board Chair
William L. Jews, CareFirst President/CEO
Dr. Floretta MacKenzie, CareFirst, Inc. Board Member (In Washington)
John M. Colmers, CareFirst of Maryland, Inc. Board Chair (In
Annapolis)
Jon Shematek, M.D., Medical Director of Quality Improvement for
CareFirst

For media inquiries only, contact Amy Elias/Profiles, Inc./410-243-3790