REPEAT/FOCUS work comp network certified throughout Florida.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 20, 1997--FOCUS Healthcare Management, Inc., the nation's largest workers' compensation provider network, is certified to offer its network in every Florida county. The company is the first national workers' compensation network to gain statewide certification in Florida.

"Last year, our southeast region recruitment team dedicated itself to a goal of complete certification in the state of Florida," says Tom Cox, president. "Thanks to their hard work and intense commitment, FOCUS moved from certification in 13 counties to all 67 in less than a year."

Florida network certification is a time consuming process, as it must proceed on a county by county basis. This process is the result of 1994 legislation mandating managed care for workers' compensation. Employers across the state were given three years to develop a complete managed care arrangement (MCA). In addition to a workers' compensation network, the MCA includes first report of injury, case management, utilization review, total quality management and network direction. Medical care coordinators (MCC) are in place to integrate all aspects of the managed care arrangement.

In alignment with Florida Statute 440.134, FOCUS obtained certification in each county by recruiting the appropriate number and type of providers in each county, such as family practice physicians, chiropractors, orthopedists, etc. The company now provides complete geographic coverage for workers' compensation in Florida.

"Our ability to aggressively develop the Florida network is a big step for us," says Cox. "It serves as a blueprint for network development efforts in other states where managed care legislation requires this type of county by county certification, such as Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, New York and New Jersey."

Clients such as Zurich Services Corporation, IHDS Coporation/Care Systems Corporation and K-Mart Corporation are prepared to augment their existing authorized managed care arrangements with the additional FOCUS counties.

"The efforts of FOCUS in establishing a statewide Florida network are extremely beneficial for us," says Duane F. Perkins, claim manager of the managed care service center at Zurich-American. "Their certification brings broad coverage to Zurich customers across the state."

FOCUS Healthcare Management, Inc., is the nation's largest workers' compensation provider network, with 177,000 providers in 35 states. Its customers are 11 of the nation's leading casualty insurers as well as managed care companies, self-insured employers and third party administrators. The company is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., and is an independently operated, wholly-owned subsidiary of CRA Managed Care in Boston, Mass.

CONTACT: Anna Grimes, 615/242-5546

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Matt Padden, 615/377-9936 x1180