ACCESS MEDIQUIP AND WELLPOINT FINALIZE FIRST NATIONAL CONTRACT FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES

HOUSTON - December 12, 2008 -- Access MediQuip, LLC, the nation's first and largest provider of outsourced medical implantable device management solutions to the healthcare industry, announced today that it has completed the industry's first national contract for device benefit management services. The company has signed an agreement with WellPoint, Inc. to deliver implantable device management solutions to the health insurance company's members nationwide, after successfully completing a pilot program that began last year.

Under the agreement, Access MediQuip will provide device benefit management™ (DBM) services to WellPoint members, including insurance authorization, logistics management, and claims processing for orthopedic, spinal, pain management and other implants. These services, which will be offered through contracted healthcare providers and facilities, will help reduce the costs associated with implantable devices, as well as increase their accessibility to Wellpoint's members.

"We are pleased to formalize our relationship with WellPoint and look forward to expanding the success of our pilot program nationwide," said Bill Cramer, the founder of Access MediQuip. "Together with WellPoint, we have developed an innovative solution to manage the growing challenge of device-related claims. Our partnership with WellPoint is a revolutionary step for the healthcare industry." Founded in 1997, Access MediQuip specializes in insurance authorization, inventory management, equipment procurement and claims processing for medical implantable devices, such as orthopedic, spinal, and pain management implants. During the past 10 years, the company has built a database of implantable medical device claim information to provide device manufacturers, providers and payers with comprehensive insight into industry trends.

About Access MediQuip

Access MediQuip is the nation's first and largest provider of outsourced implantable device management solutions. The company works with thousands of manufacturers, payers and providers to manage the acquisition, financing, delivery and reimbursement of implantable devices, such as orthopedic and spinal implants and implantable drug pumps. Founded in 1997, the company is headquartered in Houston and employs approximately 150 associates. For more information, please visit www.accessmediquip.com.

Media Contact:
Lindsey Turner
713-985-4850,
lturner@accessmediquip.com

About WellPoint, Inc.

WellPoint, Inc. is the largest health benefits company in terms of medical membership in the United States. WellPoint is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com.

###