FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AT
FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1995                               (202) 616-2771
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888


 JUSTICE DEPARTMENT APPROVES PROPOSAL THAT WILL ASSIST CONSUMERS
        IN SELECTION OF LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS  


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A subsidiary of Beverly Enterprises
Inc., the nation's largest operator of nursing homes, will be
allowed to provide a nationwide database on services offered by
nursing homes and other long-term health care facilities under a
proposal approved today by the Department of Justice's Antitrust
Division.
     Assistant Attorney General Anne K. Bingaman, in charge of
the Department's Antitrust Division, said that the proposal
appears to meet a consumer need, and should promote competition
by facilitating informed consumer choice.  The Department's
position was stated in a business review letter to the
subsidiary's counsel from Bingaman.
     The subsidiary, AdviNet Inc., will develop a nationwide
service database and contract with employers, insurers,
associations and individuals to make such information available
for specific geographic areas to employees, group members or
individuals who call a toll-free telephone number.  
     Beverly operates more than 700 nursing facilities in 34
states.  
     AdviNet's database will include publicly available
information on all licensed facilities, but more detailed
information will be available from operators who become
participating providers in the network.  Participation will be
open to any provider that meets objective health, safety and
quality standards.  No fee will be charged to a participating
provider.
     Participating providers will be encouraged, but not required
to offer a discount to AdviNet customers.  The amount of any
discount will be for the provider to determine.
     In addition to providing information on long-term care
facilities in a geographic area, AdviNet will assist in
scheduling site visits by customers.  It will provide suggestions
on what to ask and look for during those visits.  The list
provided to a customer will not be limited to participating
providers, and AdviNet will not recommend any specific facility
to the customer.
     AdviNet will operate independently of Beverly, in a separate
office building, with a separate computer system.  AdviNet's
employees' compensation will not depend in any way upon selection
of Beverly facilities by AdviNet customers.  
     Specific pricing information received by AdviNet from any
provider will not be made available to any other provider.
     Under the Department's business review procedure, an
organization may submit a proposed action to the Antitrust
Division and receive a statement whether the Division will
challenge the action under the antitrust laws.
     A file containing the business review request and the
Department's response may be examined in the Legal Procedure Unit
of the Antitrust Division, Room 3235, Department of Justice,
Washington, D.C. 20530.  After a 30-day waiting period, the
documents supporting the business review will be added to the
file.
                               ###
95-268