About SCAN

SCAN Health Plan Receives $75,000 Grant

from the California Wellness Foundation

Grant Will Assist in the Development of a Released Aging Prisoners Project Aimed at Providing Health and Human Services to Former Prisoners in Los Angeles County

(LONG BEACH, CA - November 29, 2004) - SCAN Health Plan announced today that it has received a $75,000 grant from the California Wellness Foundation to support the development of a pilot, community-based program that will provide needed health and human services to recently released prison inmates in Los Angeles County.

Under this program SCAN Health Plan's Independence at Home department will work with the Pasadena based nonprofit organization Friends Outside of Los Angeles County to access the needs of older prisoners released from state and federal penitentiaries and to begin to provide programs and services that allow them to assimilate back into society. At the end of the planning phase, an implementation plan and pilot initiative will be complete.

"Though a serious problem today, the numbers of aging prisoners is rapidly increasing and will present an even greater social and financial challenge to California communities in the years to come," says Kit Donaldson, vice president of programs for SCAN. "We hope that through this Released Aging Prisoners Project we can assist these individuals in maintaining their well-being and adjust to life after prison."

Created in 1992 the California Wellness Foundation's mission is to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention programs. "We owe a great deal of thanks to the California Wellness Foundation for their vision in this area and for their financial support that will help us develop programs that make our communities a better place to live," said Donaldson.

Independence at Home (IAH) is a department within SCAN Health Plan with a separate consumer base and devoid of Medicare funding. IAH operates one of California's largest and most successful Multi-Purpose Senior Service Programs (MSSP). Programs administered through IAH are funded exclusively through the state of California, the county of Los Angeles, private foundations and some matching funds from the health plan.

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. Further information may be obtained at www.scanhealthplan.com.