FONEMED and the National Association of Mature Americans Team Up to Improve Access to Healthcare

(September 1, 1997) Colorado Springs, Colorado - FONEMED, in its continuing effort to make healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone, has joined forces with the National Association of Mature Americans to bring Medical Call Center Services and affordable pharmaceuticals to more Americans. NAMA has begun offering the FONEMED 24-hour Nurse Advice Line and Audio Health Library as part of its premium member plans. Additionally, FONEMED has added NAMA’s Discount Pharmaceutical Program to its already comprehensive list of healthcare management services.

Rick Washburne, executive director of NAMA, stated his reasons for joining FONEMED: "It’s not always convenient for our members to get to a physician’s office every time they have a health concern. The FONEMED Call Center gives them an easy, affordable way to learn about specific diseases or just get basic advice from a licensed Registered Nurse. They don’t even have to leave the house. I think the members of NAMA will perceive this new service as a very valuable addition to their benefits."

Ken Bleakley, managing partner of FONEMED, said: "FONEMED is founded on the belief that everyone should have direct access to reliable health information and advice 24 hours per day. NAMA is providing a useful public service by making available to its individual members access that was previously available only through group plans."

FONEMED markets and manages Medical Call Center Services for US health plans, associations, non-profit organizations, businesses, utilities co-ops, and the military. The FONEMED Medical Call Center provides 24-hour medical advice from a Registered Nurse using the software designed by National Health Enhancement Systems (NHES), clinical algorithms developed by MICROMEDEXâ , and pediatric guidelines written by Dr. Barton Schmitt of Denver Children's Hospital. The call center features the largest fully-automated Audio Health Library in the health care industry with topics in English and Spanish. FONEMED also establishes Call Centers internationally through joint ventures.