FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Wednesday, May, 10, 2000	Diane Landry King (301) 838-5636

FIRST QUARTER REVENUE, INCOME AND EPS EARNINGS UP SHARPLY

Rockville, MD – Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc. (MAMSI), one of the mid-Atlantic region's largest managed care companies, today announced strong earnings for the first quarter of 2000. Earnings per share, revenue and net income all show significant increases over the previous year.

"This is continuing good news for our shareholders and customers," remarked MAMSI's Chairman Mark D. Groban, M.D. "Our earnings are consistently growing because of what we bring to the market - fairly priced products and a commitment to excellent service built upon a strong financial foundation."

Diluted earnings per share (EPS) on net income for the first quarter of 2000 was $0.22 on 39,138,294 shares outstanding, compared with $0.14 per share on 42,544,686 shares outstanding for the first quarter of 1999, an increase of 57 percent.

Revenue for the first quarter of 2000 was $360.1 million, compared to $313.2 million for the same quarter in 1999, an increase of $46.9 million or 15 percent. Net income for the quarter was $8.6 million compared with $5.9 million for the same period in 1999, an increase of 46 percent or $2.7 million. Medical and home health patient services expenses for the first quarter of 2000 were $303.7 million, compared with $266.4 million for the first quarter of 1999, an increase of $37.3 million. Administrative expenses were $42.6 million for the first quarter of 2000 and $36.8 million for the same quarter in 1999.

"The first quarter results are an excellent start for the year 2000," said Thomas P. Barbera, President and CEO of MAMSI. "We will stay the course by continuing to emphasize disciplined pricing and service improvements as we move to increase shareholder value."

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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 that the Company is not able to increase its market share at the anticipated premium rate; the possibility of increased litigation, legislation or regulation that might increase regulatory oversight which, in turn, would have the potential for increased costs; the possibility of increased medical expenses due to increased utilization, inflation or legislative mandates; and the possibility that the Company is not able to negotiate new or renewal contracts with appropriate physicians and health care practitioners. Investors should review other risks and uncertainties contained in Company documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note 2: MAMSI is a regional holding company for health care organizations that provides comprehensive health insurance products and services including: MD-Individual Practice Association, Inc. (M.D. IPA), a federally qualified HMO; Optimum Choice, Inc.® (OCI) , a non-federally qualified HMO; Optimum Choice of the Carolinas, Inc. (OCCI); Alliance PPO, LLC, a preferred provider organization; Mid Atlantic Psychiatric Services, Inc., a preferred provider organization offering managed psychiatric health care services; MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company (MLH), a life and health insurance company; HomeCall, Inc. and FirstCall, Inc., home health care companies; and HomeCall Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., a pharmacy and home infusion services company.

Note 3:Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc. common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE-MME)

Membership in all products totaled 1,797,000 covered lives as of March 31, 2000 as shown in the table below:

* Includes HMO and indemnity members.

The network of health care professionals participating with MAMSI's subsidiaries numbered 40,251 physicians, specialists and affiliates; 343 hospitals; and 21,002 pharmacies as of March 31, 2000.

The Company also announced:

• It had purchased 1,106,000 shares of MAMSI’s common stock for approximately $9.7 million during the first quarter. In addition, the Company purchased 604,200 shares in April 2000. The Stock Purchase Program is planned to continue throughout the year.

• Its subsidiary, Optimum Choice, Inc.® (OCI), withdrew from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Medicaid Program, effective May 1, 2000. This ends MAMSI’s participation in government sponsored health care programs.

Selected Income Statement Information
(In thousands except share amounts)
(Unaudited)

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MID ATLANTIC MEDICAL SERVICES, INC.
IN 000'S EXCEPT PMPM AND PER SHARE
(UNAUDITED)