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CompCare to Launch Disease Management Initiative to Help Armed Forces Returning From War

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 15:00 CST

Comprehensive Care Corporation ("CompCare") (OTCBB:CHCR) launches its Behavioral Health Disease Management Program to provide care for United States Armed Forces returning from Afghanistan, Iraq, and other areas of combat. This initiative offers innovative and comprehensive solutions to help break down barriers to care for the Armed Forces returning from war that need mental health or substance abuse treatment.

CompCare Behavioral Health Services are designed to provide proactive treatment and solutions; including skilled outreach, education, and specialized treatment resources to those soldiers identified by the military's screening process as having a mental health or substance abuse problem. Once identified, specialized clinicians will individually assess needs, resolve barriers soldiers are experiencing in getting treatment, and provide support throughout the recovery process.

For the past four years, CompCare Disease Management Initiatives have focused on providing individuals at high risk of serious mental illness or substance dependence with treatment, support, and resources in an effort to achieve best possible outcomes. These initiatives typically are designed to follow an individual throughout treatment, providing continued support along the way. CompCare Behavioral Health Services range from telephonic follow-up to in-home services that offer a proactive alternative to the standard office visit. In-home services allow for a more comprehensive assessment in order to identify additional behavioral and social issues, as well as identify barriers to care that otherwise may be missed in an office visit.

Mary Jane Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of CompCare, stated, "The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research reported in the Journal of American Medical Association this month a promising trend that many soldiers who suffer from a mental health or substance abuse problem are seeking help early.

"However, significant barriers to treatment still remain: many soldiers do not seek help because they fear stigmatization, experience difficulty in scheduling appointments, have inadequate transportation, or lack trust in mental health professionals.

"Rather than expecting these soldiers to seek out treatment, which they are often reluctant to do, we should support them proactively in an effort to identify and eliminate any barriers to treatment that they may face."

Ms. Johnson continued, "This initiative continues to build upon the recently announced CompCare Substance Abuse Disease Management program, which is designed to reduce cravings for alcohol and stimulants while supporting rehabilitation through care management activities.

"Reaching out to individuals to help resolve barriers to care has been a key component of our disease management initiatives. These soldiers may be affected by mental health and substance abuse problems for different reasons, but the end result is the same - poor health and a diminished quality of life. Moreover, mental health and substance abuse conditions increase the risk of other, co-occurring medical conditions. By applying behavioral health disease management tools and introducing specialized clinicians to our Armed Forces returning from war at a critical point, we believe that we can enhance the quality of life of many of our soldiers affected by these issues and offer a cost-effective treatment solution for the military."

Tony Milone, President of Health Alliance Network, Inc., a sales and marketing partner of CompCare, said, "This year, CompCare has focused on building relationships in distinctive markets where high service and high quality products are essential. The CompCare Behavioral Health Disease Management program offers a natural complement to the existing array of programs offered to soldiers by the Veteran's Administration, Department of Defense, community resources, and others."

About Comprehensive Care Corporation

Established in 1969, CompCare provides behavioral health, substance abuse, and employee assistance programs for governmental agencies, managed care companies and employer groups throughout the United States. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, CompCare operates regional service centers in Florida, Michigan, and Texas; serves approximately 800,000 covered individuals nationwide; and has a network of approximately 8,000 qualified behavioral health practitioners. With 36 years of experience in the industry, CompCare focuses on personalized attention, flexibility, a commitment to high-quality services, and innovative approaches to behavioral health that address both the specific needs of clients and changing healthcare industry demands.

"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain information included herein and in other Company reports, SEC filings, statements, and presentations is forward looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements concerning the Company's anticipated operating results, financial resources, increases in revenues, increased profitability, interest expense, growth and expansion, and the ability to obtain new behavioral healthcare contracts. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect actual results and cause them to differ materially from expectations expressed herein and in other Company reports, SEC filings, statements, and presentations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, changes in local, regional, and national economic and political conditions, the effect of governmental regulation, competitive market conditions, varying trends in member utilization, our ability to manage healthcare operating expenses, the profitability of our capitated contracts, cost of care, our ability to obtain new business, seasonality, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports.

Source: Business Wire

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