South Carolina Local Government Assurance Group Expands Services With Progressive Payor-Sponsored Program.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

COLUMBIA, S.C.--(BW HealthWire)--June 29, 2000

Helps Insureds to Remain Healthy while Saving Money for

Client Municipalities

The South Carolina Local Government Assurance Group (SCLGAG), a self-funded health insurance program sponsored by the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC), today announced a new healthcare benefit for their insured municipal employees and dependents who have coronary artery disease (CAD).

Cardium Health Services, a national cardiovascular disease management organization, will implement the program that focuses on improving health and reducing the risk of re-hospitalization. Cardium will work with municipal employees and their physicians on a confidential basis to develop a customized care program, which includes individualized diet, exercise plans and medication compliance to enhance each individual's cardiac health. A professional staff of registered cardiovascular nurses, dieticians, exercise physiologists and trained counselors administers Cardium's program.

"This is a win-win for both insureds and the MASC," said Harvey Mathias, Director of Risk Management Services at MASC. "We identified heart disease as a healthcare problem among our municipal employees and wanted to provide a proactive care management program that enhances their health and overall well-being. This program illustrates SCLGAG's focus on wellness and prevention, a strategy that will improve the lives of many while helping control rising healthcare and disability costs."

"We're pleased to serve South Carolina's Local Government Assurance Group and anticipate improved health and economic benefits from this heart disease prevention program," said Charleen Ernst, president and CEO of Cardium Health Services. "Cardium has been able to demonstrate a reduction in repeat hospitalizations by 50 percent. Each avoided hospital re-admission for coronary artery disease is equivalent to the annual salary expense of one administrative full-time employee."

The program, offered to all individuals covered by the SCLGAG health plan, is included as an integral part of current health benefits and offered free of charge to participants. Individuals eligible for the program are identified through:

- A review of medical claims to identify individuals with CAD;

- Identification of a CAD condition by case managers during prior authorization calls or when a patient reports an admission;

- Identification of a CAD condition through filing of a disability claim; and/or

- Self-referral and self-enrollment utilizing Cardium's toll-free telephone line or web-based enrollment site.

Cardium's service is supported by proprietary software technology and medically proven treatment protocols. Cardiovascular counselors use the system to design and manage customized treatment pathways for participants. The system also allows counselors to efficiently track patient progress and outcomes, and provides for high quality patient-physician-counselor communication.

Cardium Health Services is a privately held national cardiovascular disease management organization, based in Simsbury, Conn. Supported by network proprietary technology, Cardium employs a team of highly trained specialists to enhance patient health while assisting managed care organizations and employers to create predictable savings. To learn more about Cardium Health's services, please visit our website at www.cardiumhealth.com.