Health Alliance Plan Announces CuraNet Acquisition and Geographic Expansion

DETROIT - August 15, 2006 - Health Alliance Plan (HAP) announced today that it has acquired Okemos-based CuraNet, LLC, a regional network of 78 hospitals and 9,100 physicians serving Michigan, northwest Ohio and northern Indiana. CuraNet’s PPO network will be available to HAP PPO customers through HAP’s two subsidiaries, Preferred Health Plan and Alliance Health and Life Insurance Company.

"For HAP, the CuraNet acquisition strengthens our outstate provider network, enabling us to compete effectively for business in key Michigan markets while maintaining our responsiveness to the local market," said Fran Parker, HAP president and CEO. "Current and future clients will gain access to high quality physicians and hospitals through this geographic expansion, and I’m looking forward to working with our new provider partners."

"This acquisition will enable CuraNet to better serve our existing clients," said Harry Dalsey, sole owner and president of CuraNet. "It simplifies administrative services for our clients by enabling HAP, a trusted name in health coverage and claims pricing administration, to serve as the single coordination point between provider network partners and payors."

HAP markets PPO products to third-party administrators (TPAs), self-insured employers, Taft-Hartley/Union Health and Welfare Funds, other claims payors and groups.

Additional information regarding the transition of operations will be shared with our customers as the details unfold.

About HAP

Health Alliance Plan (HAP), a nonprofit health plan based in Detroit, has more than four decades of leadership in providing customers with access to quality health care coverage. HAP serves more 570,000 members and is a subsidiary of the Henry Ford Health System, one of the nation’s leading health care systems. The health plan serves companies of all sizes - from large national groups to small groups - through an expansive product portfolio including: HMOs, PPOs, Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans with prescription drug coverage, experience-rated and fully insured products, and HSA-compatible high-deductible health plans with online consumer tools. Leased provider network services are available through HAP’s subsidiary, Preferred Health Plan. The National Committee for Quality Assurance awarded HAP’s commercial HMO Excellent Accreditation and Full Accreditation for Alliance Health and Life Insurance Company PPO products.

About CuraNet

CuraNet contracts with local and regional Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and Physician Hospital Organizations to provide network access to members in their local communities or when traveling throughout the region. Unlike others that operate in a single state, CuraNet’s network covers Michigan and parts of Ohio and Indiana to provide access to preferred local providers and continuity of network access across state borders. Participating networks include HAP Preferred PPO, Sparrow Physicians Heath Network, Paramount Preferred Partners, Health Care Alliance Pool, Ingham Physicians Health Network, Preferred Partners, Community Health Partners of Jackson, Branch County PHO, Elkhart Medical Organization, Lakeland Care, Hillsdale Healthcare and Community Health Alliance.

CONTACTS:

Susan Schwandt, APR
HAP Public Relations Director
Mobile: 313-505-3937
Office: 248-443-1076
e-mail: [email protected]</p>

Liz Manasse
HAP Public Relations Coordinator
Office: 248-443-1072 
Mobile: 586-260-7697
e-mail: [email protected]