For Immediate Release

Silver Spring, Maryland
May 3, 2006

APS Healthcare Appoints New Chief Operating Officer for APS Public Programs

APS Healthcare, one of the country's leading specialty healthcare companies, today announced Steve Thronson has been appointed as the senior vice president and chief operating officer of APS Public Programs, its government services business unit.

In this new role, Thronson will be responsible for APS' Public Programs specialty healthcare and health management divisions, which serves clients covering more than 30 percent of the Medicaid beneficiaries in the United States.

“Steve brings a unique combination of leadership and extensive public programs expertise that will help extend APS' position as the leader in public sector innovation,” said David Hunsaker, president, APS Public Programs. “As APS continues to grow its Public Programs business beyond our 35 programs in 20 states, his expertise will be invaluable in helping APS continue to deliver innovative, industry-leading services.”

Thronson comes to APS with more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in healthcare and the public sector. He previously served as chief of operations for the Orange County Health Care Agency in Santa Ana, Calif., with responsibilities for public health services that served more than three million beneficiaries.

Prior to the Orange County Health Care Agency, Thronson was the vice president of Phoenix Houses of California, a non-profit drug and alcohol treatment services organization. He has also served in senior operational roles with Kaiser Permanente, CIGNA Healthcare and Marriott Healthcare Services.

Thronson received a bachelor's degree in economics and psychology from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and earned a master of business administration degree from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.

Thronson has served on the member advisory committee for CalOptima and has worked with a variety of community organizations, including Rossmoor (California) Community Services District, Los Alamitos (California) School District and the American Diabetes Association.

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:

Sarah Clark-Lynn
Manager, Corporate Communications
APS Healthcare
800-305-3720, ext. 3266
sclynn@apshealthcare.com