 |
 |
|||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||
|
Press Press Releases 2006
Oakville , ON – September 7, 2006 . (TSX VENTURE: PTZ) Pethealth Inc. (“Pethealth” or “The Company”), is pleased to announce that it has formed a strategic alliance agreement with USA Managed Care Organization, Inc., dba USA Pet Health Network, (“USA MCO”), the largest privately held self-developed Preferred Provider Organization in America. The agreement is believed to mark the first time a provider of pet health insurance and a managed care services provider for humans have formed a partnership to offer managed care services to U.S. pet owners for their dogs and cats. Roll-out of the first test program is planned for the fourth quarter of 2006 after the two companies have completed the development of fee schedules which network veterinarians and clinics will agree to charge for selected services. Pet owners purchasing a jointly branded card will be able to have that card honoured at participating veterinarians and clinics. “We are very pleased to announce this partnership with USA MCO,” said Mark Warren, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pethealth. “We have long felt that there is a market for managed care services within the companion animal world. USA MCO’s expertise in contracting with medical professionals and hospitals in the human healthcare field combined with our extensive reach into the U.S. pet-owning community we believe will work very well. It is our view, from our experience in working with the shelter community, that there exists a constituency of pet owners who may not have an immediate interest in purchasing pet health insurance, but who perceive an immediate value in purchasing a card which will allow them to take their new pet to a participating veterinarian and clinic and receive quality medical care at a negotiated price.” Under the terms of the agreement, USA MCO will be responsible for developing networks of service providers through contracting with veterinarians and veterinary clinics in selected U.S. states. Pethealth’s principal responsibility will be to direct pet owners into the network using its various platforms, most notably its 24PetWatch microchip and lost pet registry recovery program and its platform with animal welfare organizations which currently includes the ShelterCare insurance program and the 24PetWatch microchip program. “We believe that the human healthcare model has clear applications to the companion animal world,” said George Bogle, C.E.O. and Chairman, USA MCO. “Pethealth’s unique model and extensive reach with not only the shelter community but also with retailers, combined with our capabilities in contracting and accreditation, will provide for a win-win for pet owners and the veterinary community alike.” About USA MCO USA Managed Care Organization (USA MCO) is the largest, most comprehensive, privately held self-developed Preferred Provider Organization in America. Through esteemed panels of preferred providers, ancillary products and specialty services covering the full continuum of care, USA MCO offers innovative alternatives to traditional group health and workers' compensation medical benefits. With a distinct freedom of choice, flexibility and a 100% user-friendly platform, USA MCO affords sound solutions through a portfolio of integrated options that are uniquely client driven, focused on the seamless blend of quality care and cost containment. About Pethealth Pethealth is a leading provider of pet health insurance and pet-related data management services to the North American companion animal industry. Pethealth offers a unique range of products and services for veterinarians, shelters and pet owners through a number of wholly owned subsidiaries using a range of brand names including PetCare, ShelterCare and 24PetWatch. Pethealth is based in Oakville, Ontario. To find out more about Pethealth, visit the web site at www.pethealthinc.com. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for dissemination in the United States of America or to United States news wire services.
For further information, please contact: Rob Thurner, Executive Vice President
|
|
|||||||||||
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
