Group Benefit Services (GBS) Announces That It's Contract with PHCS

MultiPlan Now Offers Access to Cox and St. John's Health Systems

Group Benefit Services (GBS) Announces that it's contract with PHCS MultiPlan now offers access
to Cox and St. John's Health Systems. Both facilities can now be accessed through one network.

Springfield, MO, January 18, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Group Benefit Services (GBS) today announced that it
has confirmed that Cox has contracted to participate in the PHCS MultiPlan (PHCS) PPO network. Cox
contracting with PHCS was a direct result of Coventry Health Care, Inc. (Coventry) terminating their
existing contract with Cox when Coventry recently acquired Mercy Health Plans.

As a result of this contracting activity both St. John's and Cox Health Systems participate in the PHCS
PPO network. It is unclear what the long-term impact of this agreement could be.

There may be certain restrictions on how employers can design, access, and offer both providers in the
same plan(s). It may be possible that employers offer 2 similar plans; one plan that has Cox as the
primary healthcare provider, and another plan that has St. Johns as the primary healthcare provider.

When asked about what this means to the Springfield market area, James Deren, President of GBS said:
"I have long thought that picking a primary provider and healthcare facility should be an insured's
decision and not an employer's choice."

According to James Deren, "Historically, employers have been placed in a difficult position by being
forced to pick a network around one or the other provider in the Springfield area either based upon the
prevailing prices offered by insurance carriers for fully insured health plans and/or the discounts offered
by a PPO network for self insured plans."

James Deren said further; "We are blessed to have access to quality healthcare providers in our area. Let
the healthcare facilities market directly to the employees for the best clinical outcomes at the best price,
and as long as each employee can choose which facility is primary by virtue of choices allowed through
the employer health plan, the employees in the Springfield area have just been empowered and have now
been provided with a choice of where they can secure their healthcare services."

Based upon the history in the Springfield market area this appears to be a huge step forward in the
Springfield healthcare marketplace and that this healthy competition could continue to drive up the
quality of clinical outcomes and begin to drive down the price of healthcare services rendered in this area.

James Deren indicates that Group Benefit Services, Inc. (GBS) is in a unique position to offer access to
the PHCS PPO network to its clients.

Group Benefit Services (GBS) is a licensed Third Party Administrator and Employee Benefits
Technology corporation located in Springfield, MO. GBS provides Employer Based Services which
includes employee benefit consulting and claims administration, Project Based Services that include

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inception and management of Association Group Health Plans, Trust programs, and Outsourcing Services
for the insurance industry. Web Addresses: www.gbs-tpa.com

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Contact Information:
Group Benefit Services, Inc.
James M. Deren
800.995.3569
jamesderen@gbsitpa.com
www.gbs-tpa.com

Online Version of Press Release:

You can read the online version of this press release at: http://www.pr.com/press-release/291182

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