New preventive-screening program offered to companies and organizations across the country.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 1995--A new preventive-screening program, called Check Up Centers of America, is now available to companies and organizations throughout the United States, including health plans, hospitals and health systems, managed-care companies and employer groups.

The program, which began as an annual benefit for Blue Cross of California's 1.8 million PPO members, is a set of services that allows companies to offer health screenings to their clients in a convenient and cost-effective manner.

Services include physical assessments, a computerized health appraisal, immunizations and educational material. Pap tests, mammograms and PSA tests can be added, as well as a full blood panel, a fasting cholesterol test and screenings for body fat, HIV and lead. A hemoglobin test, urinalysis and a hearing test are also available. Screenings are conducted in a modular unit by registered nurses or nurse practitioners during this 25-minute appointment.

``The Check Up Centers of America program is unique because health-screening services are seldom delivered in an organized and consistent manner to groups of people covered by insurance,'' said Pat Johnson, national marketing officer for Check Up Centers of America and former general manager of preventive-care operations for Blue Cross of California.

``In California, Blue Cross of California delivered these screening services through Check Up Centers located in 100 network hospitals, using the staffs at these facilities. Blue Cross of California now has a preventive network which they use to deliver a comprehensive set of health-screening services to a managed-care population of 1.8 million members.''

Advantages to companies adopting this program include the following:

-- Development is complete. The program can be up and running

in a short period of time.

-- Information received from Check Up Center appointments can be

integrated into other managed-health-care programs.

-- The program allows companies to:

-- customize their preventive-care benefits;

-- control costs;

-- deliver the same set of services to each individual at

each location;

-- add a back-to-basics preventive benefit at a low cost;

-- provide an image and identity for their companies.

The health screenings available through Check Up Centers can be delivered for one-third of the usual costs because the services have been focused and streamlined into an efficient delivery system. Companies interested in establishing Check Up Centers can arrange for an individualized review of the concept in order to develop a program that meets their needs.

For more information on Check Up Centers of America, call 805/379-8404.

CONTACT: Check Up Centers of America

Stacey Doss, 714/249-9018