HEALTH PLAN OF MICHIGAN LATEST COMPANY RELOCATING TO DETROIT 111 EMPLOYEES TO MOVE DOWNTOWN

CEO David B. Cotton: “You would be crazy not to move your company to Detroit”

DETROIT – Health Plan of Michigan (HPM), one of the nation’s top 10 Medicaid HMOs, announced today that it will relocate its corporate headquarters and staff of 111 employees to downtown Detroit. HPM CEO and President Dr. David B. Cotton made the announcement at a press conference, where he was joined by Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick, Wayne County Executive CEO Robert Ficano and George Jackson, Jr. of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC).

“With what the city of Detroit, Wayne County, the DEGC and Downtown Detroit Partnership, landlords and business leaders will do for you, business owners would be crazy not to move their companies into the city,” Cotton said.

HPM’s decision to move downtown was far from crazy– in addition to some economic benefits, it was a way for HPM to support Detroit’s recent growth spurt. “We’re excited to be part of the revitalization of the city by encouraging growth,” Cotton said.

HPM is no stranger to growth. Founded in 1997, the company provides healthcare to more than 130,000 Medicaid recipients throughout the state of Michigan. Its revenue has increased tenfold from $30 million in 2000. And HPM was recently named the 10th best Medicaid health care provider in the country, according to the 2007 US News&World Report/NCQA health care ranking.

Cotton attributes HPM’s rapid growth to its emphasis on quality of care for members. “Our mission is to improve the quality of care members receive in a low resource environment,” he said. “In short, our goal is to keep people healthy and keep them out of the hospital.”

“The long-term economic sustainability of Detroit requires businesses with new economy jobs to become a part of our city’s corporate landscape,” said Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick. “Detroit has historically been a manufacturing town, but to truly experience the revolutionary transformation we are capable of achieving, we must continue to diversify our industry. Health Plan of Michigan’s move to downtown is further proof that there is a market here for emerging industries.”

The company’s new headquarters will be located at 777 Woodward Avenue in Campus Martius Park. The 44,000 square foot space will accommodate HPM’s 111 employees, and will allow for future growth as well. Neumann-Smith was the architect for the space, with furniture design by Troy-based Interior Dynamics.

About Health Plan of Michigan
Health Plan of Michigan is the third largest Medicaid HMO in the State of Michigan, providing health care services to over 130,000 Medicaid enrollees through a contract with the Michigan Department of Community Health (DCH). HPM is a privately owned and physician managed Medicaid health plan. Its corporate headquarters are located in Detroit, Mich. Currently HPM operates in 41 Michigan counties. The company has attained an NCQA rating of “Excellent” which is the highest accreditation rating that can be obtained by a managed care organization. For more information, visit www.hpmich.com.