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Matria Healthcare Signs Agreement With the Revive Group to Give Australians Access to Its Online Health and Wellness Programs

Posted on: Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 12:00 CDT

Matria Healthcare, Inc. (NASDAQ: MATR) announced today that it has signed an agreement with Queensland, Australia-based Revive Group to offer its on-line health and wellness programs to the Australian market.

Through Matria's collaboration with the Revive Group, Australian health plans, employers and government agencies will have the opportunity to provide Matria's services to their members or employees.

The relevance of health enhancement programs in the Australian healthcare system is heightened by national statistics(1) showing that the rate of obesity among Australian adults has doubled over the past two decades. With obesity and its associated illnesses estimated to cost Australian society and governments as much as $1.2 billion(1) a year, the Commonwealth Government also recently announced a new ministerial taskforce to tackle rising obesity rates.

"With over eight years of development backed by science and research, Matria's program is unlike any other program in the Australian market," says Revive Group's Managing Director, Louise Stewart.

"Matria's health and wellness program is about prevention - helping combat the loss of productivity to companies with employee sick days and 'presenteeism', and unnecessary and costly hospital or doctor visits for health plans. The program allows individuals to understand their own health risks and gain motivation to improve their lifestyle. To maintain high participation rates an ongoing communication strategy and comprehensive incentive program is provided to guarantee success," says Stewart.

"Health enhancement programs are still new for Australia, and we are optimistic that the Australian market will respond as positively as the US market has responded. Not only does Matria provide companies and health plans the means to deliver an extra level of care for their employees or members, but their return on investment is measurable through real-time reporting of participation and success," says Matria's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Parker H. Petit.

"As an Australian leader of online health and wellness products and services, the Revive Group is a natural partnership for Matria Healthcare. The over one million visitors to the Revive Group site are symbolic of a growing interest among Australians for innovative health management," says Petit.

Having tailored Matria's services for the Australian marketplace, the Revive Group is currently engaged in discussions with large healthcare companies and employer groups who are seeking ways to attract and retain members and employees, and provide preventative health strategies.

The introduction of a new Australian health legislation, due to be in effect by April 2007, will allow Australian health funds to offer programs such as Matria's health and wellness program. In addition, State and Federal Government will introduce initiatives for employers who provide such programs to their employees.

(1) Statistics via the Australian Government's Department of Health and Aging

About Revive Group

Since launching in June 2004, the Queensland-based Revive Group (www.revivegroup.com.au) has become an industry leader in online personal health management in Australia.

Revive Group's online health and wellbeing services are attracting customers and businesses alike. The Revive Group ClubREVIVE newsletter, containing health and wellness promotions and discounts, has 60,000 members. Their online business directory has over 5,000 businesses from a broad range of services including natural therapies, holistic pharmacies, nutrition, exercise, day spa, massage, wellness education and health insurance.

About Matria Healthcare

Matria Healthcare is a leading provider of comprehensive health enhancement programs to health plans, employers and government agencies. Matria manages major chronic diseases and episodic conditions including diabetes, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high-risk obstetrics, cancer, chronic pain, depression, end-stage renal disease, and obesity; delivers programs that address wellness, healthy living, productivity improvement, and patient advocacy; and provides case management of acute and catastrophic conditions. Headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, Matria operates through more than 50 offices around the United States. More information about Matria can be found on line at www.matria.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements include but are not limited to the demand for Matria's health and wellness programs in the Australian market. These statements are based on current information and belief, and are not guarantees of future performance. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include less than expected interest in or demand for Matria's health and wellness programs from Australian health plans, employers and government agencies, developments in the healthcare industry, third-party actions over which Matria does not have control, regulatory requirements applicable to Matria's business and the risk factors detailed from time to time in Matria's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Matria's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. By making these forward-looking statements, Matria does not undertake to update them in any manner except as may be required by Matria's disclosure obligations in filings it makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the federal securities laws.

Source: Business Wire

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