While this
action is non-binding, it represents the first of a series of steps to
be taken as CMS finalizes the details around the program
implementation.

ceu assisted

Seven years after the merger, the number of patients receiving hospice care in
Greater Orlando had more than doubled, as did other key indicators," she
added. "This is consistent with our mission to bridge gaps in the
health care system and offer consumers and other customers broad
benefits and services tailored to their individual needs.

dmerc psychotropic

FLORHAM PARK, N. In February, the company hosted over one hundred LTC pharmacies and
other industry participants for a two day seminar about the impact of the MMA
on senior citizen residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. "Today, we recognize that
there are still many underserved communities in our state. Through its family of
businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves approximately 55 million
individuals nationwide.

assistedliving marwood

It is also already
clear that our network is of great interest to the PDPs/MA-PDPs that wish to
enter this market and we are certain we will be able to deliver contracts that
reflect the unique services provided by LTC pharmacies.

For More Information Contact:
Frank X., VITAS Innovative Hospice
Care(R), the nation's leading hospice provider, has received state authority
to open VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Volusia and Flagler Counties and is
now serving patients.
"Whenever VITAS has entered a new market , whether through expansion or
acquisition, the community has benefited from an across-the-board increase in
hospice care usage -- to the benefit of patients and families and all hospice
providers in that market," Lawe explained.

About VITAS Innovative Hospice Care
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care(R), a pioneer and leader in the hospice
movement since 1978, is the nation's largest provider of end-of-life care.

assistedliving ltc

Kurilla
Marketing Manager
Managed Health Care Associates
1-800-642-3020 x4435

VITAS hospice programs around the country are committed to continually
improving clinical care by using an interdisciplinary approach to providing
hospice care and caregiver education.

alzheimers caregivers

Last week MHA hosted conference calls announcing the MHA Network.

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care(R) of Volusia and Flagler Counties Opens as Seventh Florida Program

Generalized assisted living guides, stories and articles, from both the patients' and caregivers' points of view .

caregiving marwood

There is no other entity in the Long Term Care market that could
possibly surpass the size we have today in terms of independent pharmacy
locations or number of LTC residents served. VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Volusia and Flagler Counties is
located at 533 North Nova Road, Ormond Beach, Florida . In fact, recent research published by the National
Hospice and Palliative Care Organization found that most Americans would
prefer to receive end-of-life care at home and think hospice professionals are
the most knowledgeable in helping them do so.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, VITAS (pronounced VEE-tahs) operates 36
hospice programs in 12 states (Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and
Wisconsin).unitedhealthgroup .

thecareguide caregiving

After
nearly a year of planning, MHA launched its recruitment just last week.

caregivers momiji

The Volusia-Flagler hospice program is the newest of
seven VITAS hospice programs in Florida and the 35th VITAS program throughout
the country. Hospice is provided in the
home to better provide comfort, pain control and symptom management for a
patient at the end of life. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn.

lpn marwood

J. Its proprietary information technology,
"Vx," was created to track the effectiveness of that care.

marwood lifestream

Since the
passage of the new Medicare Bill in late 2003, MHA has hosted several
educational programs for LTC pharmacies regarding the new Part D Medicare
benefit. VITAS' Newest Hospice Program to Provide Compassionate,
Professional End-of-Life Care

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. VITAS'
compassionate care focuses on the medical, social and spiritual needs of
patients and their families, from employing VITAS' own hospice-specific pain
formulary and protocols to manage pain.
VITAS' Volusia and Flagler program will provide responsive, round-the -
clock hospice care, and patients and families in the program area will be able
to access VITAS staff day or night through a 24-hour Telecare(R) call center
staffed by VITAS triage nurses.

lpn ltc

Already over 150 pharmacies from around the country, that service more than
300,000 nursing home and assisted living residents have agreed to grant MHA's
network the exclusive right to negotiate on their behalf with PDPs/MA-PDPs.
Volunteers are warmly encouraged to contact the program office at 386/677 -
3392 for opportunities to participate in patient care.

ceu alzheimers

MHA Creates Nation's Largest Long Term Care Independent Pharmacy Network

VITAS employs 7,586 professionals who care for terminally ill
patients daily, primarily in the patients' homes, but also in the company's 24
inpatient hospice units as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted
living facilities/residential care facilities for the elderly.

dme psychotropic

"The Part D drug benefit represents an important opportunity to
assist those who need help with affordable access to appropriate
prescription drugs," said Tom Paul, president of Ovations Pharmacy
Solutions."
UnitedHealth Group serves 5 million senior Americans and
participates in the Medicare program on a national basis, as well as
across the full spectrum of Medicare offerings , including
pharmaceutical discount cards, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage
plans, Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), private
fee-for-service, Special Needs Plans for the chronically ill and frail
elderly, and chronic care pilots.

nacl ceu

The Part D drug benefit represents one of the most significant
changes in the history of the Medicare program.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (www.com) is a diversified
health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work
better.

assistedliving assisted

Ensuring that this respected program would continue
to grow and to improve was the driving force behind VITAS' decision to merge.

thecareguide caregivers

We also expect this number to
continue to grow considerably over the next few weeks.

Ovations a UnitedHealth Group Company Announces National Participation in Part D Drug Benefit Program

thecareguide psychotropic

I'm proud to
announce that VITAS' compassionate, professional care is now available to
patients and families in Volusia and Flagler Counties.

Business Editors /Medical Editors

MINNEAPOLIS----Ovations, a business
unit within UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH ), has informed the Centers
for Medicare + Medicaid Services (CMS) of the company's intent to
participate nationally in the Part D drug benefit program.

thecareguide marwood

MHA expects this number to continue to grow to over 400 pharmacies and over
500,000 nursing home and assisted living residents in the next few weeks as
pharmacies complete their legal reviews of the provider agreement.
Michael J. Over 300
pharmacies attended the conference calls and many have now already chosen to
participate in this exciting new program.
VITAS cares for all hospice-appropriate patients referred for care,
regardless of their ability to pay.

About Hospice
Because hospice is not a "place" as many believe , VITAS caregivers make
visits throughout the community to care for patients in their own home, in
nursing homes, and in assisted living communities.

nacl ltc

"Florida's oldest not-for-profit
hospice, Hospice of Central Florida, for example, merged with VITAS Innovative
Hospice Care(R) in 1996. Through the program,
millions of older Americans who are Medicare eligible will have access
to prescription medications independent of their other health care
coverage., UnitedHealth Group offers
a broad spectrum of products and services through six operating
businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice , Uniprise,
Specialized Care Services and Ingenix.

postacute nacl

Sicilian, MHA's Executive Vice President stated, "The MHA
Network is easily the largest Network of independent LTC pharmacies in the
country and represents a sizable portion of the total Long Term Care pharmacy
market.

lsw dme

MHA has been the clear leader in the industry in supporting the
efforts of industry advocacy groups over the last several years.
"More than twenty-five years ago, VITAS helped defined hospice care by
opening our first programs in Florida," said Deirdre Lawe, VITAS executive
vice president, development and public affairs. In addition, VITAS provides
more charity care than any other hospice operating in the United States. At the
conclusion of the first quarter of 2005, VITAS reported an average daily
census of 9,523.

nacl dmerc

, Insuring its customers will
have the chance to effectively compete in the new Medicare reimbursement model
created by the Part D drug benefit, Managed Health Care Associates (MHA) has
created a revolutionary network of Independent Long Term Care pharmacies to
negotiate with the Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage
Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PDPs) who will administer this new benefit. Families may call
800/93-VITAS for more information about hospice or to schedule a free
consultation.

rethink dme

"

MHA, as the largest Group Purchasing Organization in the country
representing Long Term Care Pharmacies, was perfectly positioned to develop
this Network .

caregiving caregivers

Since VITAS accepts Medicare and Medicaid
as 100% coverage for its hospice services, there are no out-of-pocket expenses
to patients or their loved ones for VITAS care.