Eye Care Plan of America Brings Access to Laser Vision Correction to More Than 10 Million Members.

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 29, 1999--

Effective August 1, 10 million members of Eye Care Plan of America (ECPA) programs and their dependents will have the choice of Laser Vision Correction.

This service comes as First American Health Concepts Inc. (NASDAQ:FAHC), which markets and administers third-party managed vision care plans nationwide under the trade name Eye Care Plan of America, unveils a program for laser refractive procedures.

"Industry estimates anticipate that approximately 1 million refractive surgeries will be performed in the year 2000. Due to the growing popularity of refractive surgery and ECPA's commitment to offer choice to our membership, the laser vision correction program as a value added benefit was an obvious inclusion," said John A. Raycraft, president and chief executive officer.

"We have been developing and testing the laser vision correction program during the past year and a half with pioneers in the field such as Lee T. Nordan, M.D. We're pleased to have him aboard as ECPA's surgical director, Laser Vision Correction."

Laser vision correction, which includes PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis), is now available through ECPA's national network.

The network includes some of the nation's most highly qualified surgeons and all surgeons have been fully credentialed to meet NCQA guidelines, with primary source verification performed by an independent NCQA certified organization. Each surgeon is board certified, has performed more than 1,000 successful laser procedures, and uses FDA-approved lasers.

"The 34 surgeons currently participating in the laser vision correction network were hand picked and/or highly recommended by their peers," said Nordan.

"We elected to set-up the network using independent ophthalmologists who may participate in the day-to-day decisions regarding their patients' care without the potential influence of a commercial intermediary, such as a public laser vision corporation."

Nordan added, "All procedure outcomes will be monitored by the surgeons to ensure the quality of care and integrity of the surgical provider network and program."

"ECPA continues to develop the laser vision correction surgical panel throughout the country to provide our members with quality, accessibility and preferred pricing. The laser program is now a standard component of the ECPA membership. It is unique in its mix of exceptional value, high-caliber surgeons, and preferred pricing," said Raycraft.

The professional credentials and practice data of all the laser vision correction surgeons are available to ECPA members and providers by calling 800/843-3272, or by viewing the ECPA website at www.ecpa.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements which may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by these statements.