Mines & Associates announces that it has applied for the Health Utilization Management Accreditation from URAC.

DENVER, CO - May 12, 2007 - MINES & Associates is pleased to announce that it is in the process of applying for the Health Utilization Management Accreditation from URAC, a Washington, DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. MINES & Associates (http://www.minesandassociates.com) continues to be an industry leader in the delivery of health related services including managed care, disease management and award winning employee assistance programs (EAP) to corporate employers and self-insured organizations. Receiving an accreditation from URAC will confirm the strides that MINES has made to maintain its role as an industry leader in providing EAP and health and organizational psychology programs.

URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation and is a leader in the accreditation of health and managed care organizations. Founded in 1990, URAC currently offers more than 20 accreditation programs that span a broad spectrum of health care services.

“MINES & Associates is excited for the opportunity to receive accreditation from URAC for Health Utilization Management and gain the national recognition for excellence that this accreditation brings”, said Robert A. Mines, Ph.D., founder and CEO of MINES & Associates. “Such a distinction will also underscore the quality of our work with customers, patients, clients, payors, and providers by demonstrating compliance with national standards for case management services.”

The process of receiving final accreditation from URAC is a very thorough and painstaking process. Frequently it can take 6-12 months for a company to finish the process and receive accreditation. URAC accreditation requires applicants to submit policies, procedures and other organizational information to URAC. This is followed by an onsite review.

“By choosing to seek URAC Health Utilization Management Accreditation, MINES & Associates has displayed leadership through a commitment to quality and accountability,” said Charles Stellar, URAC Board Chair.

The URAC Health Utilization Management standards establish consistency in utilization management processes. The standards ensure that appropriately trained clinical personnel conduct and oversee the utilization review process, that a reasonable and timely appeals process is in place, and that medical decisions are based on valid clinical criteria.

As a national business psychology firm, MINES & Associates provides a variety of services such as managed mental healthcare, employee assistance programs (EAP), organizational and cultural improvement, and behavioral risk management. MINES & Associates currently serves a diverse portfolio of clients in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and the UK. For more information on our EAP and / or our other health and organizational psychology programs please log on to http://www.minesandassociates.com or contact Judy Braun at 1-800-873-7138 extension 4980.


About URAC

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is a leader in promoting health care quality through accreditation and certification programs. URAC's standards keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a mark of distinction for health care organizations to demonstrate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in setting meaningful standards for the health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org

About MINES & Associates

For over 25 years MINES & Associates has been a nationally recognized business psychology firm that provides a variety of services to corporate employers including employee assistance programs (EAP), managed care, managed mental healthcare, organizational development and psychology services, wellness programs, behavioral risk management, disease management, PPO services, and a number of other technology based services. MINES & Associates is divided into two main divisions, Organizational Psychology and Health Psychology, and currently serves a diverse portfolio of clients in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and the UK. Please log on to http://www.minesandassociates.com for the latest news and information on MINES & Associates.

Contact:

Judy Braun
VP Organizational Services
Tel: 1-800-873-7138 ext. 4980
jgbraun@minesandassociates.com

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