News Release: October 9, 2006

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Presbyterian Health Plan has received the highest quality rating – "excellent" – for all three of its managed care programs, commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid (Salud) from The National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA) for the third consecutive year. NCQA is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to measuring the quality of America's health care.

The three excellent ratings make Presbyterian only one of nine health plans in the nation to earn the highest quality designations for all of its managed care products.

NCQA accreditation is a voluntary review process and its surveys include rigorous on-site and off-site evaluations for more than 60 standards and selected Health Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS) performance measures. A team of physicians and managed care experts conducts accreditation surveys, re-evaluated annually.

"The purpose of Presbyterian is to improve the health of individuals, families and communities. While we're proud of what we do as a health plan to improve health, the credit for these rankings goes directly to the physicians and other practitioners in our network who are focused on improving the health of the patients and members we serve," Dr. David Scrase, president of Presbyterian Health Plan said.

NCQA president Margaret E. O'Kane said, "NCQA's 'Excellent' accreditation status is reserved for the best health plans in the nation. It is awarded to those plans that meet or exceed NCQA's rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement and deliver excellent clinical care. It is partly a health plan's members that determine whether it earns NCQA's Excellent Accreditation status. Any plan that does so should be proud of their accomplishment. It is a sign that they are delivering great service and great care – they've met the toughest test in managed care."

Presbyterian Health Plan serves more than 418,000 New Mexicans, and is part of the Presbyterian Healthcare Services family. Presbyterian Healthcare Services was founded in New Mexico in 1908, and is the state's only private, not-for-profit healthcare system. As New Mexico's largest provider of healthcare, Presbyterian includes seven hospitals, the state's largest health plan, a strong and growing medical group and more. Presbyterian employs more than 9,000 people throughout New Mexico who serve to improve the health of individuals, families and communities.