For Immediate Release

Silver Spring, Maryland
February 1, 2006

HMC Companies and APS Healthcare Create Partnership to Deliver Health Management Services to Taft-Hartley Trust Funds

APS Healthcare, one of the country's leading specialty healthcare companies, announced today that it has partnered with HMC Companies to deliver health management services that are customized for Taft-Hartley Trust Funds, Union Employers and Union Trust Funds. The partnership establishes APS as HMC's exclusive health management services provider.

The innovative partnership between HMC and APS positions the companies to jointly deliver a unique suite of health management programs that specifically address the needs of Taft-Hartley Trust Funds. HMC currently serves more than two million union members and has over three decades of experience delivering healthcare solutions to the multi-employer market. APS has more than 10 years of health management experience and offers a full continuum of health management programs such as health and wellness, utilization management, disease management and case management. Together, HMC/APS offer programs that are specifically targeted to the needs of unions and focus on improving member health and reducing overall healthcare spending.

“We selected APS to serve as our exclusive health management provider after a rigorous evaluation process,” commented Janis DiMonaco, Ph.D., President and CEO for HMC Companies. “APS differentiated itself from other vendors due to the scope of their health management services, integrated approach and their willingness to be flexible and customize their services to the specific needs of our union customers.”

APS CEO Eileen Auen further commented, “APS' commitment to the Taft-Hartley market is shown by our partnership with HMC Companies. By working with one of the leaders in the Taft-Hartley healthcare market, we intend to deliver customized health management solutions to meet the unique needs of this important market segment.”

About HMC Companies
HMC is an integrated total healthcare solutions provider dedicated to serving multi-employer Taft-Hartley Trust Funds, collectively-bargained health plans, public sector employee plans, joint labor/management plans, union employers and union-sponsored industry plans. HMC has been in business since 1976 and has successfully built a record of excellence to become a full-service specialty healthcare provider. HMC identifies partners with the highest credentials and state of the art programs to deliver maximum value to employee benefits.

About APS
APS Healthcare, headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., is a leading provider of specialty healthcare solutions that cover more than 20 million members in the United States and Puerto Rico. APS offers customized, integrated healthcare solutions across two major healthcare product lines – care management and behavioral health services. APS operates under the belief that managing healthcare for the mind and body improves overall health and reduces total healthcare spending.

For more information, contact:

HMC Companies - Janis DiMonaco, Ph.D.
President and CEO at (800) 981-7031
or visit the HMC website at www.hmccompanies.com.

APS Healthcare - Jay Krueger
Senior Vice President, Business Strategy at (800) 305-3720, ext. 5202.