MAMSI Announces Coverage of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Prevnar) for Infants and Children



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Monday, April 17, 2000	Diane Landry King (301) 838-5636

MAMSI Announces Coverage of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Prevnar) for Infants and Children

Rockville, Md. - Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc. (MAMSI) (NYSE-MME) announced today that its health plans cover the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (known as Prevnar) in accordance with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the Center for Disease Control. This coverage applies to members of MD-Individual Practice Association, Inc. (M.D. IPA), MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company (MLH), Optimum Choice, Inc.^®(OCI) and Optimum Choice of the Carolinas, Inc. (OCCI).

The prevalence and severity of pneumococcal disease has alarmed the medical community. The pneumococcus bacterium is responsible for 3,000 cases of bacterial meningitis, 50,000 cases of bacteremia, 500,000 cases of pneumonia, and 7 million cases of otitis media annually in the United States. Clinical trials of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine found that the vaccine is highly effective in preventing invasive disease and pneumonia in young children and has a significant impact on otitis media as well.

"This vaccine offers a safe and effective way to combat pneumococcal infection in infants, toddlers and other at-risk children," Vera Dvorak, M.D., Medical Director for MAMSI health plans said. "I urge all parents to talk to their pediatrician about the appropriateness of having this vaccine administered to their child."

The Medicine, Surgery and Care Coordination Peer Review Committee for MAMSI's Health Plans reviewed the appropriateness of covering this vaccine last month. The Committee, comprised of six independent physicians in private practice, recommended coverage of this vaccine.

"At MAMSI Health Plans, practicing physicians are actively involved in developing coverage policies for our various HMO and health insurance products," remarked Mark D. Groban, M.D., Chairman of the Board of MAMSI. "We are proud of the active involvement of practicing physicians in setting the policy and procedures of our Health Plans."

Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc.'s subsidiaries cover over 1.8 million lives in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. It is one of the mid-Atlantic region's largest managed care companies. The Company's web site is located at www.mamsi.com.

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Note 1: Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All forward-looking information or statements contained in this release are based on management's current knowledge of factors, all with inherent risks and uncertainties, affecting MAMSI's business. MAMSI's actual results may differ materially if these assumptions prove invalid. Significant risk factors, while not all-inclusive, are: the possibility of increasing price competition in the Company's marketplace; the possibility of state or Federal budget mandates that reduce premium levels; the possibility of increased medical expenses due to increased utilization, inflation or legislative mandates; and the possibility that the Company is not able to expand its Service Area as planned. Investors should review other risks and uncertainties contained in Company documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. MAMSI is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE-MME).