MONTCLAIR, N.J., Sept. 17 -- Announcing another managed care breakthrough, the latest edition of the Genesis Report(R)/MCx - Managed Care Strategic Briefing, one of America's leading publications on managed care and its impact on the American economy, says the development of COMPASS INT, a progressive assessment system for inpatients with mental illness, is the next step revolutionizing managed care cost control.

Mr. Dick Zeich, Editor, says COMPASS, developed by Compass Information Systems, Inc. (CIS) King of Prussia, Penn., evaluates and monitors the effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient mental health care. COMPASS is based on dose therapy, the patient's response is related to the number of therapy sessions, and phase therapy, with patients passing through three stages during successful therapy: remoralization, remediation, and rehabilitation.

Plans are in the works to include measures for adolescent mental health and new versions of COMPASS will incorporate Medicaid participants. While COMPASS is going to save companies money, it will also help them spend money on more effective treatment according to Grant Grisson, Ph. D., VP of R&D at CIS.

Mr. Zeich says with the introduction of COMPASS, mental health facilities can document the quality of care delivered in their inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient settings. "These facilities frequently have excess capacity and decreased revenue attributable to shorter lengths of stay. Facilities which demonstrate they provide shorter lengths of therapy across the continuum of care to reduce costs will have a competitive advantage," Mr. Zeich said.

The Genesis Report(R)/MCx - Managed Care Strategic Briefing is published by The Genesis Group Associates, Inc., 29 Park Street, Montclair, N.J., a think-tank for the health care industry that has been providing strategic consulting and publishing services since 1981. Prepared by Mervis & Company for The Genesis Report(R)/MCx - Managed Care Strategic Briefing.

SOURCE The Genesis Group Associates, Inc. -0- 09/17/96 /CONTACT: Larry Schlegel of The Genesis Group, 201-509-7735; or Mike Mervis at Mervis & Company, 414-274-2551/ CO: The Genesis Group Associates, Inc. ST: New Jersey IN: MTC SU: