WebMD Health and HHS Launch Pilot Project to Make HHS Consumer Health Information More Widely Available NEW YORK, May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- WebMD Health, the leading source of online health information, and the United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) today announced the launch of a 9-month pilot project to make HHS consumer health information more widely and more rapidly available to the public (hhs.webmd.com). During the pilot, HHS will select health content supporting national priorities and relevant to a general consumer audience from the broad range of information produced by HHS agencies, including Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). "The Web has become an important tool for government to communicate with its citizens, and this new partnership with WebMD will greatly expand our ability to empower Americans through the Web to improve their health and prevent disease," Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "In the event that a major public health emergency ever confronts our nation, this new partnership also will help us get potentially life-saving information out to the public even more quickly and more widely. This is one more way we are building our biodefense preparedness." "WebMD and HHS share the same mission of ensuring that all Americans have immediate access to critical health information so that they're able to make more informed healthcare decisions," said Wayne Gattinella, President, WebMD Health. "We're pleased to have HHS as a partner as this collaboration further demonstrates WebMD's position as the leading source of health information for consumers and physicians." Throughout the year, the HHS Educational Center will provide information on select health topics such as physical activity, nutrition, preventive screening and diabetes, complementing WebMD Health's award-winning content and tools. For more information, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040517.html. ABOUT WEBMD WebMD Corporation provides services that help physicians, consumers, providers and health plans navigate the complexity of the healthcare system. Our products and services streamline administrative and clinical processes, promote efficiency and reduce costs by facilitating information exchange, communication and electronic transactions between healthcare participants. WebMD Health is a leading provider of online information, educational services and communities for physicians and consumers. WebMD Practice Services is a leading provider of physician practice management software and related services. WebMD Envoy is a leader in payer and healthcare provider transaction processing and reimbursement cycle management services. Porex is a developer, manufacturer and distributor of proprietary porous plastic products and components used in healthcare, industrial and consumer applications. All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on WebMD's current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, including those described in our SEC filings. DATASOURCE: WebMD Corporation CONTACT: Jennifer Meyer of WebMD, , +1-212-624-3912 Web site: http://www.webmd.com/ http://www.hhs.gov/ http://www.hhs.webmd.com/

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