ARMONK, N.Y. and MARIETTA, Ga., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM said today it plans to collaborate with U.S. health enhancement specialist, Matria Healthcare Inc. , to offer health management services to Japanese insurance companies.
The move comes at a time when Japan is wrestling with increasing healthcare costs brought on by its rising population of seniors -- the fastest-growing segment of the country’s population.
“Through our agreement with IBM, Matria will become one of the first U.S. disease management companies to offer these services to Japanese companies,” said Parker H. Petit, Matria chairman and CEO. “In recent years, we’ve seen U.S. employers embrace health enhancement and disease management services as a solution to their rising healthcare burdens. We are very encouraged to see other healthcare systems and international employers recognize the benefits and improved outcomes that disease management can bring to their covered populations.”
Matria’s Total Health Enhancement Solution is a broad array of programs that address the full continuum of care ranging from wellness and prevention to disease management for chronic and high-cost diseases.
“Healthcare expenditures in Japan are increasing due to the aging population and the rise of lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes,” said Ellen S. Yoon, global health insurance manager for IBM. “IBM’s collaboration with Matria will bring solutions which can help address the healthcare impact of these demographic changes. The average tenure of a Japanese worker with their employer is more than 12 years -- much higher than the average among U.S. workers. With the greater prevalence of long-tenured and ‘lifetime’ employment in Japan, employers and employees stand to benefit from health enhancement programs.”
ABOUT MATRIA HEALTHCARE
Matria Healthcare is a leading provider of comprehensive health enhancement programs to health plans and employers. 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 has more than 40 offices in the United States and internationally. More information about Matria can be found on line at www.matria.com.
ABOUT IBM
IBM is the world’s largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key IBM Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that help enable clients, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business on demand. For more information about IBM see www.ibm.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements include but are not limited to the demand for Matria’s disease management and wellness programs in the Japanese 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 disease management and wellness programs from Japanese health plans, insurance carriers and employers, 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, 2004. 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.
Contacts: Matria Healthcare IBM Stephen Mengert Michael Corrado Chief Financial Officer Media Relations Tel: 770-767-4500 Tel: 914-642-3009 mcorrado@us.ibm.com
Matria Healthcare Inc.
CONTACT: Stephen Mengert of Matria Healthcare, Chief Financial Officer,+1-770-767-4500, or Michael Corrado of IBM, Media Relations,+1-914-642-3009, or mcorrado@us.ibm.com, both for Matria Healthcare Inc.