WebMD Announces New Health Social Networking Platform on WebMD.com

NEW YORK, March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq: WBMD), the leading source of health information, today announced the launch of WebMD Health Exchange, a new health social networking platform that provides a unique way for consumers to get health and wellness support from the world's largest community of online health-informed consumers. WebMD Health Exchange gives consumers the ability to connect with world-class health experts and other WebMD members to exchange real experiences, discuss personal challenges, and receive direct answers and support.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100309/NY67064)

"WebMD Health Exchange is a powerful new way to connect our 60 million monthly users to share their own experiences and personal wisdom across any area of health and wellness," said Wayne Gattinella, President and Chief Executive Officer, WebMD. "We expect Health Exchange will quickly become a trusted source of information for our users and an important new communications platform for our sponsors."

WebMD Health Exchange is being integrated throughout each of the core content areas of WebMD.com, giving members the ability to safely and easily connect with others on topics that are most relevant to them. In addition to expert-led communities, members are empowered to create their own communities and to exchange information with other users. Communities can be created for public access- which are searchable on WebMD and the Internet, or members can create their own private communities to securely exchange information with friends and family by invitation.

Expert Health Exchange communities will take advantage of the knowledge and credibility of leading specialists from renowned health and medical organizations and patient advocacy groups. Physicians from Duke Medicine will provide expertise for communities ranging from asthma to rheumatoid arthritis. Experts from the National Health Council, National Osteoporosis Foundation, American Gastroenterological Association, North American Menopause Society, and the American Veterinary Medical Association will lead related community discussions, as will Dr. Pamela Peeke on diet, Dr. David Colbert on skin and beauty, Dr. Robert Harrington on heart disease, Dr. Susan Evans on skin problems and treatments and bestselling author Richard M. Cohen on living with health issues.

The WebMD Health Exchange will also enable third party sponsors to create branded exchanges and to host consumer discussions on specific health and wellness topics most important to them.

WebMD Health Exchange is now available on WebMD.com. To create your own community or to join an existing community, please visit www.webmd.com and search "Exchange" or go to http://exchange.webmd.com.

About WebMD

WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq: WBMD) is the leading provider of health information services, serving consumers, physicians, healthcare professionals, employers and health plans through our public and private online portals and health-focused publications. More than 60 million unique visitors access the WebMD Health Network each month.

The WebMD Health Network includes WebMD Health, Medscape, MedicineNet, emedicine, emedicineHealth, RxList, theheart.org and drugs.com.

All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including those regarding: our expectations concerning market opportunities and our ability to capitalize on them; and the benefits expected from new products or services. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on our current plans and expectations, and they involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to be different than those described in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those relating to: market acceptance of our products and services; relationships with customers and strategic partners; and changes in economic, political or regulatory conditions or other trends affecting the healthcare, Internet and information technology industries. Further information about these matters can be found in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

SOURCE WebMD Health Corp.