ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 12, 1995 TAG: 9512120054
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 BUSINESS EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
Diabetes Self Care, a Roanoke-based mail order company selling medical supplies to diabetics, said Monday it will increase its patient base by 28,000, or 50 percent, under a new contract with National Provider Network.
The contract covers persons associated with Ford Motor Co., Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System and General Motors and enrolled in Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan's Preferred Provider Organization.
It is too soon to predict the contract's impact on the company's Roanoke Valley operation because it will take about 24 months for the new members to transfer their business from other providers to Diabetes Self Care, said Brian Bookmeier. He is president of Universal Self Care, the Livonia, Mich., company that is the parent of Diabetes Self Care.
Once the transition from the previous supplier is complete, the contract could mean an additional $6 million in annual revenue for the company, Bookmeier said.
Initially, the contracts will be serviced out of Lavonia, but the members should be shifted to Roanoke by the third quarter of next year, he said.
Universal is consolidating its national operations in Roanoke and this month is scheduled to move to new quarters in the Valley Court office center near Roanoke Regional Airport.
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB