IRVING, Texas, Aug. 14, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Access Plans USA, Inc. (Nasdaq:AUSA), a nationwide distributor of health insurance and non-insurance healthcare programs that provide access to affordable healthcare for the growing number of uninsured and/or underinsured in the United States, today announced that Michael R. Puestow has been appointed Vice President of Product Development and President of the company's Access HealthSource/Foresight TPA subsidiary operations.
"I am pleased that Michael has joined Access Plans to focus on product design and broadening the customer base of our Regional Health Care Division," said Peter Nauert, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Access Plans USA. "He brings a strong background in managed care operations and management development. Michael will be instrumental in moving forward our business plan to promote disease management and wellness programs with our healthcare products, develop additional relationships with provider groups and expand our third party administrator (TPA) operations into additional regions of Texas and the Southwest.
"As part of our development of our Regional Health Care Division, we are launching a new division under the name 'Foresight TPA.' Foresight will focus on developing mid-size employer clients initially in various metropolitan areas of Texas," Nauert added. "Historically, we have achieved exceptional results with our Access HealthSource business model in the El Paso, Texas area, providing efficient service, lower administrative costs, and enhanced savings as well as unique health and wellness programs for covered employees, but we recognize it is imperative to expand our customer base."
Puestow commented, "I am excited about the opportunities with Access Plans USA. The company has developed a strong TPA/managed care platform, and I am confident that we can expand this program into new markets. In addition, Access Plans has a wide range of healthcare programs that we can further enhance with new features and additional provider relationships. The time is right and the market is accessible for new ideas in healthcare delivery. Access Plans can be a leader in developing and bringing to market some of these new ideas."
Puestow has been Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of ATLAS Health Systems in Boston, an international specialty surgical network that provides U.S. employers, commercial payors and select individuals with access to affordable, high quality surgical procedures performed outside the U.S. at considerable cost savings. ATLAS coordinates all components of acute and follow-up care for patients requiring a variety of complex major surgical procedures, such as heart bypass surgery, hip replacements and organ transplants.
As President of Access HealthSource/Foresight TPA, Puestow replaces Frank Apodaca, who had been President and CEO of Access HealthSource.
About Access Plans USA
Access Plans USA distributes a broad array of health insurance products to individuals and families and non-insurance healthcare discount programs to affordably address the needs of uninsured or underinsured individuals. The Company also provides third party claims administration, provider network management, and utilization management services to employers and employee groups. Access Plans USA provides the highest quality of products and administrative services that work for our customers. We are committed to assuring that our clients have access to healthcare that they need at prices they can afford. For more information on Access Plans USA, Inc. please visit www.accessplansusa.com.
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Disclaimer
Certain statements included in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain, but not necessarily all, of such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believes", "expects", "may", "will", or "should", or other variations thereon, and by discussions of strategies that involve risks and uncertainties. Access Plans USA, Inc. actual results or industry results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include general economic and business conditions; the ability of Access Plans USA to implement its business strategies; competition; availability of key personnel; increasing operating costs; unsuccessful promotional efforts; changes in brand awareness; acceptance of new product offerings; retention of members, independent marketing representatives and agents; and changes in, or the failure to comply with, government regulations. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or to make any other forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.