PACIFICARE: Announces FHP Conversion Is Complete

      PacifiCare of California, the HMO subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems Inc., announced yesterday it completed the conversion of the entire membership of former FHP members to its health plans. Since PacifiCare acquired FHP in February 1997, more than 780,000 Californians have been converted -- nearly 200,000 of them Medicare HMO enrollees. Most former FHP members will be able to continue to see the same personal physician since PacifiCare has established contracts with a majority of the medical groups and hospitals in the old FHP network. By completing the integration almost three months ahead of the September 1 goal, the company hopes to benefit from "reduced redundancies that come from having members on two separate operating systems." PacifiCare Inc. CIO Jim Williams said, "Information on our members and contracted physicians can now be accessed quicker and more efficiently on one computer platform, affording quality service and improved member satisfaction." PacifiCare of California insures more than 2.3 million state residents. The company's enlarged network includes some 31,000 physicians and 300 hospitals statewide (PacifiCare of California release, 6/17).