Aon Consulting and Reed Group Form Integrated Absence Management Alliance for Companies and Their Employees

Business Wire, June 29, 2004

CHICAGO -- Leaders in HR Outsourcing, Human Capital Consulting and Clinical Disability Management Team Up to Provide Employers with Technology and Service That Improves Workforce Productivity

Aon Corporation (NYSE:AOC) and Reed Group have announced a strategic alliance that will deliver a suite of web-based, integrated absence management tools and consulting services that benefit large companies and their employees. For the first time, Aon Consulting clients will have the ability to complete all necessary absence reporting requirements directly through Aon's web-based HR Portal(TM) or via Reed Group's state-of-the-art call center. This alliance will enhance communications among employers, employees, health providers, and administrators throughout the entire healthcare cycle: disability diagnosis, treatment, recovery and return-to-work.

"Absence management carries a significant price tag for large companies. This alliance helps Aon clients to achieve further cost savings, operational efficiencies, and enhanced workforce productivity," notes Roger L. Vaughn, US president, Aon Consulting.

In addition to short- and long-term disability management capabilities provided, the Aon/Reed alliance will also enable companies to, on an outsourced basis, ease the administrative burden and compliance requirements of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and mitigate the associated risks.

Reed Group, best known for its Medical Disability Advisor guidelines, has set the bar for clinical management of all types of employee absence through proprietary software that tracks and reports results in a variety of formats. Reed Group provides evidence-based guidelines to ensure that employees, employers, and physicians are treated properly during a medical leave. Reed Group's clinical case management and client reporting services are part of this initiative with Aon.

Presley Reed, MD, an occupational physician and board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Reed Group, added: "Web-based absence management services must provide integrated data and must be easily accessible to those stakeholders who need it. By working with Aon Consulting on this initiative, we will empower corporations with integrated, accessible tools that drive bottom-line results."

The Aon/Reed initiative addresses the needs of all key stakeholders in the following ways:

Employers have a more efficient, automated benefit administration process and a clinically based outreach to employee health. Employers can access timely, accurate management information to track lost-time costs and absence outcomes.

Employees have an easier, faster way to initiate absence leave (online or by telephone) and a single platform to check leave status. Employees receive clinical information and support both online and from their case managers.

Supervisors are more closely tied to the absence management process and receive enhanced reporting on return to work. Their ability to view information in real time allows them to enhance their workforce planning.

Providers collaborate with clinical staff - not claims staff - to deliver consistent, medical case management and appropriate care for return-to-work. Nurses work with the treating providers to establish return-to-work goals and help manage the patient's disability.

One key differentiator that all four groups will be able to leverage is the strength of Aon's HRPortal(TM). The portal provides an access point for electronic claim intake, information on participant status, all necessary forms for disability and family medical leave, and disability duration and return-to-work guidelines in the Medical Disability Advisor.

About Reed Group

Reed Group (www.rgl.net) is a privately held company with four key lines of business: employee leave administration services, disability duration guidelines, software and education. Reed Group's standards-based, clinical approach is being utilized in software and service offerings that touch more than one million lives globally.

Reed Group publishes the industry standard The Medical Disability Advisor guidelines, derived from over 5 million observed disability cases. For more than 14 years, the MDA guidelines have proven to be effective when utilized to manage disability, FMLA leave, Workers' Compensation and other types of medically related employee absence. These guidelines are currently being utilized by over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies in 30 countries.

About Aon

Aon Corporation (www.aon.com) is a leading provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. The company employs approximately 53,000 professionals in its 600 offices in more than 120 countries. Backed by broad resources, industry knowledge and technical expertise, Aon professionals help a wide range of clients develop effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions.

Aon Consulting is among the top global human resources consulting firms, with 2003 revenues of $1.193 billion and 7,500 professionals in 140 offices throughout the world. Aon Consulting delivers integrated consulting solutions to help clients with employee benefits, human resources outsourcing, compensation, communication and management consulting.