SCAN Health Plan Forms Geriatric Advisory Board

National Team of Experts to Provide Input to Help Guide Health Plan's Geriatric Programs

(LONG BEACH, CA - December 7, 2004) - SCAN Health Plan announced today that it has tapped six of the nation's foremost geriatric, clinical and health policy experts to help guide the health plan in its offering of geriatric health management programs to seniors in Southern California.

The newly created geriatric advisory board, unique in its composition and charter, will review programs currently offered by SCAN, make recommendations regarding new programs under consideration, and provide SCAN leadership with broad and unfettered perspective into pressing geriatric health policy issues. The first meeting of the new advisory board will be held in January in Long Beach, California.

"We are very fortunate to have such a highly respected group of individuals agree to share their expertise for the benefit of our nation's rapidly growing senior population," said Timothy Schwab, M.D., M.H.A., chief medical/information officer at SCAN Health Plan. "Today's seniors are confronting confusing and complex issues as it pertains to healthcare, and it is our responsibility to make sure that their needs are met with dignity and attentiveness. This advisory board will play an important role in helping us achieve this, particularly as it pertains to serving the health management needs of the frail and chronically ill who are most vulnerable."

The members of the SCAN geriatric advisory board are:

Kenneth Brummel-Smith, M.D., a professor and chair of the Department of Geriatrics at Florida State University College of Medicine. Eric Coleman, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant head at the Division of Health Care Policy and Research and an associate professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Robert L. Kane, M.D., a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and School of Medicine, and director of the university's Center on Aging. Leslie S. Libow, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.M.D., chief of medical services and senior vice president for medical affairs at the Jewish Home and Hospital of New York and director of long-term care at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development. Cheryl L. Phillips, M.D., A.G.S.F., C.M.D., a medical director at Sutter Medical Group, a 200-clinician multi-specialty group in Sacramento and clinical director of skilled nursing and chronic care at Sutter Health Sacramento, Sierra Region. She is also a clinical professor at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. Robyn J. Stone, Dr. P.H., executive director, Institute for the Future of Aging Services, American Association of Home and Services for the Aging, Washington, D.C.

"Our intent was to create an independent advisory board whose members each bring a unique perspective and expertise in the area of aging," said Dr. Schwab. "This will ensure that the programs and services we offer our members are the best they can be and are designed based upon current input from acknowledged leaders in the field."

SCAN Health Plan, a leader in addressing senior healthcare needs, currently serves more than 60,000 seniors in most of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. In addition to providing members such comprehensive health plan services as routine physicals, hearing exams and prescription drug coverage, SCAN also offers qualified members Independent Living Power®, a collection of personal-care services that range from light cleaning to transportation escorts. SCAN also manages one of the largest and most successful Multi-Purpose Senior Service Projects (MSSP) in California providing community-based, long-term care and in-home, personal-care coordination for low-income frail seniors. Further information may be obtained at www.scanhealthplan.com.