We are making health care easier - by changing structures and streamlining operations.

STRUCTURE: We consolidated the company's five HMOs in 1998 under three familiar names - CapitalCare in the Washington area, FreeState Health Plan throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia and Delmarva Health Plan on Maryland's Eastern Shore.


OPERATIONS: In Washington, a newly integrated computer system was introduced to manage member status and billing. The system's on-line documentation feature allows electronic viewing of membership status and eliminates the use of printed manuals. In Maryland, the new Managed Care Administration System (MCAS) now permits all aspects of an account to be managed as a single set of operations. This new system, introduced as a trial procedure in January 1999, integrates enrollment of new members, billing, referrals, claims processing and provider services. These behind-the-scenes initiatives reflect the company's commitment to simplify health care. While these system changes are intended to be transparent to our customer accounts and individual members, what will be visible is the greater ease of doing business with CareFirst.