ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, December 3, 1994                   TAG: 9412050081
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                 LENGTH: Short

NEW HMO FOCUSES ON WOMEN, CHILDREN

The state has approved a new health maintenance organization that focuses on women and children eligible for Medicaid. Sentara Health Systems Inc. said one of the aims of the HMO is to ``address the excessive use of emergency rooms for primary care.''

Sentara is offering the plan as an alternative to state-managed Medicaid plans. People who enroll will receive full coverage at no cost for office visits, surgery, hospitalization, substance abuse, mental health care, prescription drugs and some nonprescription drugs such as aspirin, Sentara said.

-Associated Press 


 by CNB