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Press Release

Health Dialog and Independence Blue Cross Extend Relationship, Expand Services

Five-Year Renewal Agreement Reflects Continued Investment in Better Health Outcomes, Reduced Costs

Philadelphia, PA - January 29, 2008 - Health Dialog and Independence Blue Cross today announced an agreement to renew their four-year services agreement and expand their relationship, bringing a broader array of disease management and care enhancement services to Independence Blue Cross members.

Under the new, five-year agreement Health Dialog will continue to support Independence Blue Cross’s award-winning ConnectionsSM Disease Management Program. IBC’s ConnectionsSM Program helps more than 1.8 million of its members to better manage their chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and cardiac problems and other conditions that may involve a treatment choice, for example, back pain and breast cancer. Programs for members with hypertension, migraines, gastro esophageal reflux and peptic ulcer disease are also being planned through this expanded agreement.

“By providing disease management and care enhancement services to our members, we can help address the gaps in care and quality that we know unfortunately exist in the health care system today,” said Steven Udvarhelyi, Chief Medical Officer for Independence Blue Cross. “Our continued relationship with Health Dialog helps us to provide our customers with industry-leading programs that improve the management of chronic disease so that members receive the right care at the right time — helping improve health outcomes and reduce costs.”

Over the past four years, IBC’s ConnectionsSM Program has touched more than 95 percent of high-risk chronic members, successfully improving quality and reducing medical cost trends by four percent for members with chronic conditions. “It is our commitment to supporting our goal of helping our members achieve better health that has led to this success,” adds Dr. Udvarhelyi.

“We are very pleased to continue and expand our relationship with IBC,” said George Bennett, Chairman and CEO of Health Dialog. “Both organizations share a strategic commitment of finding new ways to engage and impact members, helping them to better understand and participate in their own health care.”

About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross (IBC) is a leading health insurer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For nearly 70 years, IBC has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals. In 2006, IBC was nationally recognized by the Disease Management Association of America for ConnectionsSM, its outstanding disease management program that improves the health and wellbeing of people with 22 chronic conditions. IBC’s HMO and PPO health care plans have consistently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

About Health Dialog
Health Dialog is a leading provider of care management services and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bupa, a global provider of healthcare services. Health Dialog helps physician groups, health plans, government agencies, and self-insured employers improve healthcare quality while reducing overall costs. The firm’s offerings include disease management, analytic services, telephonic and online Health Coaching, health and wellness initiatives, and other care management support for individuals, payors, and physicians. Health Dialog helps individuals become more actively engaged in the management of their health and healthcare and have more effective relationships with their physicians. For more information about Health Dialog, please visit their website www.healthdialog.com.

 

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