Molina Healthcare of Michigan Receives Pinnacle Award From Michigan Association of Health Plans for High Achievement in Screening, Diagnosis and Testing of Children.

TROY, Mich. -- Recognizing high achievement in outreach to the underserved, the Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) has awarded Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Inc. (MHM) its Pinnacle Award for a pilot program targeting children with developmental delays. The awards were announced at the Association's Pinnacle Awards ceremony on June 8 in Lansing, MI.

The Pinnacle Award was given to MHM for its Baby Steps Toward Health program that was implemented from July to November 2003.

Baby Steps Towards Health was developed in conjunction with the Center for Health Care Strategies' "Best Clinical and Administrative Practices" program attended by Michael Kobernick, M.D., MHM Medical Director, and Dana Brown, MHM Member Education Coordinator. This member-focused outreach initiative increased the EPSDT (Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Testing) visits rate from 46 percent to 76 percent for the 1,500 children included in the program. Since early 2004, the Baby Steps Towards Health program has expanded statewide to cover more than 23,000 children enrolled in MHM.

More than 15 health plans submitted multiple programs for consideration. In 2001, the MAHP Pinnacle Award for Best Practices was created to recognize outstanding programs of member plans and their participating providers. Last year, MHM received a Special Recognition Award for its increase of immunization rates for children.

"By engaging in an intervention effort to reach children with developmental delays, MHM's Baby Steps Towards Health is helping children walk the pathway to a healthy future," said Roman T. Kulich, CEO of MHM. "The Pinnacle Award is a recognition of the entire company's commitment to underserved children, with particular acknowledgement to Dr. Kobernick, Marianne Brown and Dana Brown for their dedication and creativity during the program's successful execution."

MHM is one of Michigan's fastest growing Medicaid health plans. MHM now serves more than 88,000 members in 34 Lower Peninsula counties including Kent, Wayne, Oakland and Macomb. MHM relies on community physicians, local rural health clinics and hospitals for its provider network throughout Michigan. MHM is a subsidiary of Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH), a publicly-held company which is among the most experienced managed healthcare companies serving low income patients who have traditionally faced barriers to accessing quality healthcare, including individuals covered by Medicaid and other state administered health programs for children. Molina Healthcare operates health plans in Michigan, California, Washington and Utah. Molina Healthcare's corporate headquarters are in Long Beach, California.

For more information on Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Inc., please log onto www.molinahealthcare.com/michigan/. For more information on Molina Healthcare, please log onto www.molinahealthcare.com.