Employer Coalition Rates Us Number 1 in Michigan

Rated best in nation in consumer engagement, chronic disease management, and prevention

(August 3, 2006 - Grand Rapids) Priority Health is the number-one rated health plan in Michigan, according to the local Alliance for Health and the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH). Additionally, Priority Health set the national benchmark in meeting member expectations, managing chronic disease, and providing preventive care. This is the fourth year in a row Priority Health has earned the number-one rank in Michigan.

"These ratings are especially gratifying because it comes from employers, who pay the majority share of health care costs," said Kimberly K. Horn, president and CEO for Priority Health. "The Alliance for Health and NBCH do an extremely thorough job in measuring health plan quality. Their findings affirm our commitment to improving the quality and affordability of health care throughout our communities."

NBCH collected responses from more than 250 health plans nationwide using eValue8™ (pronounced evaluate), a leading tool for measuring the quality of health care. Each health plan was rated in nine areas, ranging from the level of engagement with consumers and physicians to specific processes and systems used to improve health quality. Priority Health set the national benchmark in engaging its members, managing chronic diseases, and targeted prevention programs.

"We are very proud of Priority Health’s performance," said Lody Zwarensteyn, President of the West Michigan's Alliance for Health, a coalition member of NBCH. "As an early pioneer in the development of eValue8, we are especially pleased with how far the program has progressed in pinpointing health plan quality and performance. Priority Health’s high scores in the eValue8 program clearly demonstrate to area employers and their employees the commitment and value they bring to our market."

"We are seeing the results of several initiatives and investments we've made in chronic disease management and preventive care," said Bob VanEck, Priority Health's associate vice president of clinical quality improvement. "Whether it is diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, asthma, cancer detection, or children’s health, the success of our programs hinge on the strong relationships we have with physicians, employers and members. We provide physicians with member-specific information to assist them in making the best care decisions. We provide employers and members with valuable health information and reminders, encouraging them to see their physician for specific care. This more informed partnership results in higher quality health care."

Priority Health's top rating in consumer engagement is attributed to multiple investments in its website, www.priorityhealth.com. Here, members can find the tools and information they need to make smarter health care decisions.  For example, Priority Health's "Find a Doctor" tool provides members with detailed quality information, including a physician rating system, so patients can make more informed decision.  Members can also track their health and note improvements.

About eValue8:
The eValue8™ common Request for Information (RFI) tool is a product of the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH), a national, non-profit, membership organization of nearly 70 employer-based health care coalitions, representing over 10,000 employers across the United States. Through the support of NBCH member coalitions, eValue8 is maintained and modified to reflect the needs of employer health care purchasers. Content for the survey is coordinated using input from employers, coalitions, and health plans and incorporates guidance from leading health care quality experts. Currently, over 250 health plans respond to the annual request for information. Many of these plans respond through Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a leading human capital consulting firm, and strategic partner of NBCH. Widespread adoption of eValue8 has been the catalyst for improved health plan performance, efficiency and innovation nationwide.

About Priority Health:
Priority Health is a nationally recognized health plan company based in Michigan. It serves more than 460,000 members with a broad portfolio of products including HMOs, PPOs, HSAs, Medicaid, and Medicare. Priority Health is a non-profit company governed by a volunteer board of directors. Dedicated to providing all people access to affordable health care, the company is currently rated number one in Michigan and number two nationwide by the National Business Coalition on Health, and is consistently ranked among the nation's best health plans by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.