ARLINGTON, VA., September 28, 2005 -- Pearson Government Solutions announces the grand opening of its newest customer service facility in Chester, Virginia to support 1-800-MEDICARE. Expected to employ over 500 people in the Richmond-area, Pearson will work with the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to recruit and train customer service representatives for the federal government's 1-800-MEDICARE Helpline, one of the largest citizen contact management programs in the federal government.

"We are pleased to open our doors to the Chester community so that they, in turn, can help citizens across the country with questions about Medicare," said Mac Curtis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pearson Government Solutions. "We expect a huge increase in the volume of inquiries to the Medicare hotline when the new Prescription Drug (Part D) program enrollment begins on November 15, 2005, and these new service representatives will make a valuable contribution to this program."

Located at 701 Liberty Way in Chester Virginia, approximately 15 miles from Richmond, the 123,000 square-foot facility will serve customer service professionals answering general Medicare questions and supporting the implementation of the new Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) program. The Chester facility will also serve other health services contracts.

"The Commonwealth of Virginia welcomes Pearson and Department of Health and Human Services to the Chester community," commented Michael J. Schewel, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "We are always searching for ways to create new jobs, and 500 new jobs that directly serve and impact the citizens of this country is a huge victory for the Commonwealth as well as the United States."

"We are very pleased to have Pearson join the other leading companies in Chester," said R. M. "Dickie" King, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors. "Pearson's decision to operate this facility in Chester illustrates that companies are selecting the Richmond-region due to its ideal work environment and centralized location for business."

Since 2002, Pearson Government Solutions has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in support of 1-800-MEDICARE, performing multiple functions including program management, call center operations, content management, training, data warehouse and print fulfillment.

About Pearson Government Solutions

With over 5,000 employees worldwide, Pearson Government Solutions, Arlington, Va., serves the U.S. federal, state and local, and international governments; higher education institutions and student financial aid entities. The company designs, builds, and operates solutions that optimize the performance of public sector entities in delivering information, benefits, and services to their constituents. Clients include the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor, and Veterans Affairs; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Pearson Government Solutions is a business of Pearson, the international media and education company, including the Financial Times Group, and the Penguin Group.