Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : Matria Healthcare (MATR) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GREATMOOD who wrote (125)	3/3/1998 5:36:00 PM
From: GREATMOOD	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 220

To all: I like what I hear from Matria. Matria is making a transition from a one trick pony to a full service, one-stop shop, disease management home healthcare company. GM *********************************************** Matria Healthcare, Inc. Presentation to Cruttenden Roth Tenth Annual Growth Stock Conference MARIETTA, Ga., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Matria, Healthcare, Inc. is the nation's leading provider of comprehensive obstetrical homecare services and the leader in managing the "Disease State" of pregnancy. Disease State Management is a core competency of Matria. The demand for Disease State Management has been heightened by managed care and employers due to the declining returns of utilization review initiatives. The interventions and continuum of care necessary for effective Disease State Management programs match Matria's current capabilities and competencies and are fully incorporated into Matria's management of pregnancy. Chronic high-risk disease states such as diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disorders are priorities in our healthcare system for Disease State Management. The industry demand for providers with demonstrated disease-specific expertise who have immediately implementable programs and are willing to accept risk and guarantee outcomes, is extremely high. The current availability of such providers is minimal. Matria's recent expansion of its gestational diabetes program provides a natural launching point to expand its Disease State Management program beyond pregnancy into the management of the disease state of diabetes and the chronic diabetic population. Matria's obstetrical homecare and maternity management business represents 89% of its revenue. While having an impressive 85% share of the current prescribing market, this only equates to approximately 10% of the available market that would benefit from its high-risk obstetrical homecare services. The large balance of this available market is either treated in the more costly hospital environment or goes untreated and delivers prematurely. To gain better access to this large available market, Matria is redirecting its sales approach to acute patients, focusing on the delivery of therapeutic interventions and hospital-based selling. Matria wholly owned subsidiary, National Reproductive Medical Centers, Inc. (NRMC) represents 11% of its revenues and provides comprehensive diagnosis and specialized treatment of infertility, primarily in the area of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). General infertility is a $2.4 million market with the in-vitro fertilization segment approximating $400 million of that total market. NRMC leads the market due to its unmatched results in achieving successful pregnancies. Success is measured in terms of births per cycle initiated. For women under age forty, NRMC's success rate of 36.6% compared to the national average of 21.8% is 68% higher. Matria's newest business unit, Clinical Management Systems has developed and recently commenced marketing an automated patient record for 0B/GYN practices. The early reception of this product is extremely favorable and unlike other products of this type on the market, it is both affordable to the physician and doesn't require the physician to modify practice behaviors. Matria exceeded its earnings projection in 1997. The fourth quarter of 1997 marked the seventh consecutive quarter since its merger in which increased operating earnings before goodwill amortization and restructuring charges were produced. The vision for Matria's future is to capitalize on its financial strength, leverage its core competencies into other compatible disease states, increase its penetration of acute highrisk obstetrical patients, become the leading national provider of IVF services, and become a premier provider of clinical information solutions for women's health and other medical specialties. SOURCE Cruttenden Roth CO: Matria Healthcare, Inc. ST: Georgia IN: HEA SU: 03/03/98 14:45 EST prnewswire.com