Standard + Poor's Equity Research has no access
to non-public information received by other units of Standard + Poor's.

"HealthPartners ' groundbreaking work in composite measurement and quality
innovation is rapidly being adopted across the country," said Helen
Darling, President of the Business Group.

princeton.

edu disseminating

About Standard + Poor's
Standard + Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is
the world 's foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk
evaluation, investment research and data. With approximately 6,300 employees
located in 20 countries and markets, Standard + Poor 's is an essential part of
the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for more
than 140 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they
need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions.standardandpoors.businessgrouphealth.

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economics dissemination

"With taxes on dividends low," said Lisanti, "we expect U. Standard + Poor's team of 100
experienced U.

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spoutlookonline.standardandpoors.
Business Group members provide health coverage for more than 50 million
U.org.

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S+P Dividend Record: A Good Year for Dividends Says Standard + Poor's

For all of 2005, there were 1,949 dividend increases, an 11.

"A champion for quality improvement , HealthPartners' innovative measurement
tools provide reliable and actionable performance information that enables
delivery of better health for its members and better cost containment for
employers ," said Martin Sepulveda, MD, Vice President of Global Well Being
Services at IBM and Chairman of the Board's Award Committee. Their contention was that the resulting emphasis on reliable
delivery of all important components would create powerful leverage for
promoting systematic care improvement . The Business Group
identifies and shares best practices in health benefits, disability, health
and productivity, related paid time off and work/life balance issues.

chronologically economics

In December 2004, there were
three decreases and two omissions. Annual dividend increases have been below 2,000 since 1999. For more information , visit
http://www., European and Asian equity analysts use a fundamental,
bottom-up approach to assess a global universe of approximately 2,000 equities
across more than 120 industries worldwide .

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NEW YORK, Standard + Poor's, the leading provider
of independent investment research, ratings , and indices, reported today that
there were 166 dividend increases in December from the approximately 7,000
publicly owned companies that report dividends to Standard + Poor's Dividend
Record. and major Canadian exchanges, as well as
NASDAQ and selected OTC and foreign issues. The Outlook provides unbiased research, investment
ideas, and market perspective including buy, hold and sell recommendations of
the 1,500 stocks ranked according to Standard + Poor's STARS (STock
Appreciation Ranking System ), authoritative analyses, and easy-to-follow
charts, graphs and tables for quick reference. HealthPartners composite metrics
track important clinical outcomes developed in collaboration with community
providers to help identify the essential components of care for targeted
conditions.

statnotes methodological

"We believe 2005 was a very good year for investors who seek dividends,"
said Joseph Lisanti, editor-in-chief of Standard + Poor's The Outlook -- a
weekly newsletter for financial professionals and individuals. The Outlook is also available
under license for private-label applications.

About the National Business Group on Health

The National Business Group on Health, representing 242 mostly large
employers , is the nation's only non-profit organization devoted exclusively
to finding innovative and forward -thinking solutions to large employers'
most important health care and related benefits issues.

authoritative multinomial

7% increase
from 2004.

About Standard + Poor's Equity Research Services
As the world 's largest producer of independent equity research, over 1,000
institutions license Standard + Poor 's research for their investors and
advisors, including 19 of the top 20 securities firms, 13 of the top 20 banks,
and 11 of the top 20 life insurance companies. The analytical and
ethical conduct of Standard + Poor's equity analysts is governed by the firm's
Research Objectivity Policy, a copy of which may also be found at
http://www.

ordinating statnotes

Six companies reduced
their dividends, and another four omitted them.S.
The National Business Group on Health today
awarded HealthPartners its prestigious 2006 Award for Excellence and
Innovation in Value Purchasing.

uncertainty methodological

Extra dividends for the month totaled
196, a 14% gain from December 2004. Follow Standard + Poor's equity
analysts' US market commentary each day at
http://www.

HealthPartners developed its composite outcome metrics to enable providers
to focus on the total care of the patient rather than individual components
of care. workers, retirees and their families.

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Standard + Poor's data also show that there were 10 unfavorable dividend
actions last month, twice the number in December 2004.
For more information , visit http://www. Its Pay for Performance program links provider
reimbursement and measurement of quality and efficiency to improved care
and outcomes for its members.

dissemination economists

corporations
to continue to increase their payments to shareholders.

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S.com.

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6% above the
10-year average of 1,763. "If the economy
and corporate profits continue to show strength, which we think they will, it
is likely that we will see more than 2,000 dividend increases in 2006," he
said.

About Standard + Poor's The Outlook
Standard + Poor's The Outlook is an online and print investment advisory
newsletter providing generalized market information for use by individuals and
financial professionals .

PRESS RELEASE National Business Group on Health Honors HealthPartners With 2006 Award for Excellence and Innovation in Value Purchasing

HealthPartners, the largest consumer
governed non-profit health care organization in the nation, was recognized
for its innovative programs that measure and reward quality health care.

methodological ota

S.com or call 800-852-1641.

Each year, the Business Group recognizes and honors organizations or
individuals that have demonstrated improved health outcomes and more
efficient use of health care resources, encouraging excellent practices,
and have a documented track record of increasing value in health care
through superior purchasing practices or developed approaches,
methodologies, and tools that enable outstanding health management
practices.

Economics has been described as ' the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management' ( http://www.

In this case the 'goods and services' are those of healthcare.

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The reports include the current
dividend payout rate, payable date, declared date, record date, and
ex-dividend date.
The Business Group is proud to honor HealthPartners for their leadership
and pioneering work. For more information about the
Business Group, visit www.

ordinating seminal

standardandpoors. Its Outcomes Recognition program rewards primary care
clinics that achieve superior results in effectively promoting health and
preventing disease.

ordinating statnotes

Although that's essentially unchanged from the 167 increases reported
in December 2004, it represents a 9."

About Standard + Poor's Dividend Record
Standard + Poor's Dividend Record offers dividend reports on more than
23,000 securities, including 12,000 equity, bond, and money-market funds and
450 closed -end funds, listed on U."

About the Award for Excellence and Innovation in Value Purchasing

The Business Group annually awards individuals, organizations, or programs
that encourage the efficient use of health care resources in addition to
improving quality and affordability; encourage excellent practices that are
started by or involve large employers, or have a proven track record of
increasing value in health care through superior purchasing practices or
have developed approaches , methodologies and tools that enable outstanding
health benefit management practices.S.

disseminating authoritative

Standard + Poor's does not trade on its own account.com.

exchanging heed

equityresearch.

Once baseline metrics are established, HealthPartners
incentive programs are introduced to tie composite metric improvement goals
to performance. "Their quality innovation
programs are transforming health care for providers , employers and members.

seminal systematic

The total number of 2005 dividend increases was 10. Standard + Poor's Dividend Record also offers information
about stock split and spinoff distributions, rights distributions , tax
consequences, and historical dividend information.

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2% gain from the average number of
December increases over the past decade.
The equity research reports and recommendations provided by Standard +
Poor's Equity Research are performed separately from any other analytic
activity of Standard + Poor's.

dissemination seminal

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