ODS. Healthcare from your head to your toes.

October 18, 2011
ODS Health announces partnership with Associated Industries in Washington

SPOKANE, WA. (Oct. 18, 2011) - ODS Health Plan, Inc., (ODS Health) a Pacific Northwest health company, announced today a partnership with Associated Industries (AI) as the health plan provider for their member companies across the state of Washington.

"This is an exciting day for us here at ODS Health," said Robert Gootee, ODS Health President and CEO. "AI has been serving the needs of their member companies for 100 years; the opportunity for us to partner with them and help them provide healthcare to their member companies means a great deal to us. As a Pacific Northwest company, we take great pride in helping our friends and neighbors get the right care at the right time in the right place. We call it making health happen, and we are thrilled AI has chosen us to help make health happen for all AI member companies. "

AI launched an exhaustive search for a new health plan partner as a way to expand its services and remain responsive to the needs of its membership. The Associated Industries' Board of Directors and the Trustees of Associated Employers Trust (AET) chose ODS Health.

"Making the switch to ODS Health makes sense. We are impressed by the responsiveness they have to the people they work with. And we are excited to partner with a company that shares our same values of service, flexibility and community partnership," said Jim DeWalt, AI President /CEO. "Our goal is to provide reliable, flexible and effective healthcare that delivers the right care, with the right outcomes. ODS Health will help us deliver on that promise."

In addition to providing a comprehensive medical network in Washington through the First Choice Health network, ODS offers its members access to the tools and resources they need to manage their health. ODS Well™, a standard part of all ODS medical plans, offers members online and telephonic resources, including access to ODS eDoc, ODS Registered Nurse Advice Line, health coaching, condition management and care coordination. In addition, ODS Health partners with the Washington Prescription Drug Consortium (WPDP) for pharmacy benefits.

"We're proud to partner with WPDP to continue to provide discounts on pharmaceuticals to the member companies of Associated Industries," said Chandra Wahrgren, ODS Health Vice President, Client Strategies.

ODS Health has been pioneering affordable and effective health coverage for more than 55 years. Their focus is to help members manage their healthcare and achieve their best health. This mission is accomplished through evidence-based plan designs, effective medical management and a commitment to quality. ODS Health's Oregon PPO plan is an NCQA accredited plan.

If you would like more information on the AET and ODS Health plan offerings, please contact your producer; or Paul Baker, Program Manager for Wells Fargo Insurance Services, USA, Inc. at 206-892-9573 or the ODS Health Washington sales team at 855-294-1667.

For media inquiries, to arrange for an interview or expert quote, contact Jonathan Nicholas at 503-219-3673 or Cher Merrill at 509-326-6885.

About ODS Health
ODS Health is a multifaceted organization that provides medical, dental, pharmacy, vision and professional liability insurance products, along with a variety of business services including benefits administration. ODS Health serves more than one million members. Founded in 1955, ODS Health has been a pioneer in health and health benefits for the Pacific Northwest. ODS Health is headquartered in Portland and has offices in Medford, Ore., Milwaukie, Ore., Bend, Ore., and La Grande, Ore., as well as in Seattle, Wash., Spokane, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska. For more information, visit http://www.odscompanies.com/washington.

About AI

Associated Industries is an employer association - created by members and for members - and dedicated to enhancing the success of member organizations and the greater business community by providing a variety of membership and fee-based services, including healthcare products and services offered through Associated Employers Trust. For more information about Associated Industries, visit http://www.aiin.com/workforce_solutions/.

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