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For Immediate Release

Written by: Susan Alderman, 260-481-6165

Media contact: John Wellington, 260-481-6461

BeniComp Study Results Corrected by IPFW

(Fort Wayne, Jan. 24, 2007) -- A recent news release issued by John Sonego of the Sonego Group on behalf of its client BeniComp Advantage, Inc. is being corrected by Indiana University—Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) and its Doermer School of Business and Management Sciences (DSBMS).

John Wellington, dean of the school, said today, “A statement was made in the Sonego Group news release that 87.5 percent of annual medical claims could be predicted by lifestyle factors. That statement is in error. Early results in the IPFW study of BeniComp Advantage show a relationship of 74 percent between lifestyle factors and health care claims.” Wellington went on to say, “These preliminary results of the model are very promising, but they need to be examined in greater detail. The next step would be validation of the relationship between the lifestyle factors and claim costs, which may lead to a longer term clinical study.”

Wellington says the 87.5 percent figure came from a single example in the study’s report, rather than on the actual aggregate results.

Wellington says DSBMS discovered the incorrect data when a Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette reporter requested more information about the news release. The news release was issued without the prior knowledge of Wellington or others in DSBMS involved in the BeniComp study. Wellington says after a discussion with the company, it was agreed that any future news releases concerning the study or any of its results would made jointly by the company and DSBMS.

For more information on the study, contact Wellington at 260-481-6461.

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