ResCare Premier in Missouri expands publicly funded services

Sedalia, Missouri, February 2, 2005--ResCare Premier in Sedalia and St. Louis, Missouri have entered into a contract with Missouri Department of Mental Health to provide Independent Supported Living (ISL) services. The services are funded through the Missouri MR/DD Medicaid waiver. ISL is a non-facility-based form of residential habilitation, which allows individuals with even the most severe disabilities the opportunity for community living. Individuals may live alone or with their families or may share living arrangements with others. Training and support are provided on-site in the home or in the community, thereby allowing functional skill development to occur in the real life settings where the skills are used. The ISL service model provides consumers maximum involvement in developing and carrying out their own service plans. The nature, amount and cost of services and supports needed to carry out each plan depend on that consumer’s needs, abilities, resources and informal support systems. Therefore, ISL services and supports are individually planned and budgeted for each person served.

The eleven Missouri Regional Centers serve as the entry point into the waiver program. Those approved for Medicaid Waiver services and/or their families/guardians work with a Regional Center Case Manager who makes appropriate community connections for the supports needed, including referrals for ISL services.

Ms. Kim Watkins, Executive Program Director for ResCare Premier, noted, “We are very excited to add this dimension to the residential rehabilitation services we offer. We are currently providing ISL services in a three-bedroom home in Sedalia and anticipate expanding the service in Sedalia and into St. Louis in the near future.”

Recently, ResCare Premier Sedalia and St. Louis also have become participating providers for Medicare Part B. Both sites offer outpatient physical and occupational therapy.

Ms. Maureen Magrath, Senior Program Director, stated, “We offer more than isolated therapies. We provide a coordinated schedule that maximizes communication among therapists and thereby enhances outcomes. The coordinated schedule also proves to be convenient for participants and their caregivers.”

Ms. Beth Hearne, Director Marketing and Admissions, commented, “We are very pleased with the addition of these services in our Missouri locations. It is an example of our commitment to develop services to meet the needs of customers and to provide services to persons across a broad spectrum of needs and resources.”

ResCare Premier is an in-network provider for many national and regional health care insurance companies, workers’ compensation insurers, auto no fault insurers and on a limited basis, will enter into Security and Assignment of Proceeds Agreements. Since opening its doors, ResCare Premier has expanded and developed programs to meet the diverse needs of individuals with acquired brain injury. As a unique group of interrelated treatment facilities, residential communities, and specialty programs located across the United States and Canada, we offer a full continuum of rehabilitation and residential services designed to meet treatment needs “from the door of the hospital to the door of the home – or any door that opens opportunity for our participants.”^sm

ResCare from time to time makes forward-looking statements in its public disclosures, including statements relating to the Company's expected financial results, revenues that might be expected from new or acquired programs and facilities, other statements regarding development and acquisition activities, statements regarding reimbursement under federal and state programs and statements regarding various trends favoring downsizing, de-institutionalization and privatization of government programs. In the Company's filings under the federal securities laws, including its annual, periodic and current reports, the Company identifies important factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. We refer you to the discussion of those factors in our filed reports.

Admission Information: 800.28.BRAIN (800.282.7246)
Email: Admissions@ResCarePremier.com

Local Contacts:

Ms. Kim Watkins
Executive Program Director
Phone: 660.829.0070
Email: Kim_Watkins@ResCarePremier.com

Ms. Maureen Magrath
Senior Program Director
Phone: 314.918.9950
Email: Maureen_Magrath@ResCarePremier.com