February 5, 2002
AmeriPath Announces BCBS Agreement Expansion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gregory A. Marsh Vice President & CFO AmeriPath,
Inc. 561-712-6211
Michelle D. Getty Investor Relations AmeriPath, Inc. 561-712-6260
E-mail: invrel@ameripath.com
AMERIPATH ANNOUNCES BCBS AGREEMENT EXPANSION
Riviera Beach, FL, February 5, 2002 – AmeriPath, Inc. (Nasdaq:PATH),
a leading national provider of cancer diagnostics, genomics, and
related information services, today announced that it has expanded
its current agreement with Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield
to include its HMO products. Through this agreement, AmeriPath’s
dermatopathology services will now become available to approximately
one million Keystone HMO members in the Philadelphia area.
Founded in 1938, Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Pennsylvania
continues its commitment to provide its subscribers with unparalleled
quality service and quality care. For over 60 years, Independence
Blue Cross Blue Shield has been instrumental in not only meeting
the health care needs of its residents and employer groups, but
has set a standard as a nationally-recognized health plan organization
“By expanding this agreement to include Keystone HMO membership,
AmeriPath will now be able to extend its expertise in cancer diagnostics
to the full complement of Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield
lives,” said James C. New, Chairman and CEO of AmeriPath.
AmeriPath is a leading national provider of cancer diagnostics,
genomics, and related information services. During the first nine
months of 2001, AmeriPath diagnosed approximately 2.9 million tissue
biopsies, and interpreted approximately 1.6 million Pap smears.
The company’s extensive diagnostics infrastructure includes
over 400 pathologists and doctorate-level scientists providing
services to 42 independent pathology laboratories, more than 200
hospitals, the Center for Advanced Diagnostics (CAD) and Dermpath
Diagnostics. CAD provides specialized diagnostic testing and information
services including Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH), Flow
Cytometry, DNA Analysis, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Molecular
Genetics, Cytogenetics and HPV Typing. AmeriPath has over 60 board-certified
dermatopathologists supporting Dermpath Diagnostics, one of the
country’s leading providers of dermatopathology services
in the growing skin diagnostic market. Additionally, AmeriPath
provides clinical trial and research development support to firms
involved in developing new cancer and genomic diagnostics and therapeutics.
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The statements contained
in this press release include "forward-looking
statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements - which are sometimes
identified by words such as "may", "should", "believe'', "expect'', "anticipate'', "estimate" and
similar expressions and which include any financial or operating
estimates, forecasts or projections - are subject to a number
of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or
circumstances
that are beyond the Company's control. These risks and uncertainties
could cause actual results to differ materially from results
anticipated by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties
include:
the extent of success of the Company's operating initiatives
and growth strategies; ability to manage growth; access to capital
on satisfactory terms; general economic conditions; terrorism
or
an escalation of hostilities or war; competition and changes
in competitive factors; federal and state healthcare regulation
(and
compliance); reimbursement rates under government and third party
healthcare programs and the payments received under such programs;
changes in coding; changes in technology; dependence upon pathologists
and customer contracts; the ability to attract, motivate, and
retain pathologists; labor, technology and insurance costs; marketing
and promotional efforts; the availability of pathology practices
in appropriate locations that the Company is able to acquire
on
suitable terms or develop; and the successful completion and
integration of acquisitions (and achievement of planned or expected
synergies).
The forward-looking statements in this press release are made
as of the date hereof based on management's current beliefs and
expectations,
and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise
any such statements. Further information regarding risks, uncertainties
and other factors that could affect the Company's financial or
operating results or that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expected, estimated or anticipated are
included
in the Company's annual, quarterly, and other reports and filings
with the SEC.
