EXHIBIT 99.1


                  HCIA Announces Date of Stockholder Meeting to
                     Approve Merger With VS&A Communications
                               Partners III, L.P.

Baltimore,  MD, Oct. 12, 1999 -- HCIA Inc. (NASDAQ:HCIA) today announced that it
will hold a special meeting of  stockholders on Wednesday,  Nov. 17, 1999, at 10
a.m. ET to approve its proposed  merger with VS&A  Communications  Partners III,
L.P. Stockholders of record as of the close of business on Oct. 8, 1999, will be
entitled  to  receive  notice  of and to  vote  at the  special  meeting.  It is
anticipated  that the proxy  statement  in  connection  with the meeting will be
distributed beginning on or about Oct. 12, 1999.

HCIA also announced that it has received early clearance of the merger under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act. The merger  continues  to be subject to other  customary
conditions,  such as the correctness of representations and warranties set forth
in the merger  agreement.  It is currently  anticipated  that the closing of the
merger will take place on or about Nov. 23, 1999.

As previously announced,  pursuant to the merger agreement between HCIA and VS&A
Communications  Partners  III,  L.P.,  each share of HCIA  common  stock will be
converted into the right to receive $11.00 per share.

HCIA  Inc.   collects,   manages,   and  distributes   comparative  health  care
information.  Its  customers  deliver,  purchase,  and  manufacture  health care
products and services.  By combining industry leading databases,  methodologies,
and analytic  services,  HCIA  creates  information  assets that help  customers
manage health care costs and improve patient care.

VS&A  Communications  Partners III, L.P. is a $1.0 billion  private  equity fund
affiliated with Veronis,  Suhler & Associates Inc. VS&A Communications  Partners
III, L.P. focuses  exclusively on making equity  investments in the information,
communications and media industries.

SAFE HARBOR  STATEMENT  UNDER THE PRIVATE  SECURITIES  LITIGATION  REFORM ACT OF
1995: This press release, other than historical financial information,  consists
of  forward-looking  statements  within  the  meaning  of  Section  27A  of  the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and Section 21E of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  as amended.  Those  statements  include  statements  regarding the
intent,  belief or  current  expectations  of the  Company  and its  management.
Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward looking statements are
not  guarantees  of  future  performance  and  involve  a number  of  risks  and
uncertainties,  and that  actual  results  could  differ  materially  from those
indicated by such forward looking  statements.  Among the important factors that
could cause actual  results to differ  materially  from those  indicated by such
forward  looking  statements  are (i) that the  information  is of a preliminary
nature and may be subject to further  adjustment,  (ii)  variations in quarterly
results,  (iii) the  assimilation  of  acquisitions,  (iv) the management of the
Company's  growth  and  expansion,   (v)  dependence  on  key  personnel,   (vi)
development by competitors of new or superior  products or entry into the market
of new competitors,  (vii) dependence on major customers,  (viii)  dependence on
intellectual  property  rights,  (ix) integrity and reliability of the Company's
data,  (x) volatility of the Company's  stock price,  (xi) changes in the health
care  industry  from  both  a  regulatory  and  financial   perspective,   (xii)
implementation of required changes to computer systems and software for the year
2000,  and (xiii)  other  risks  identified  from time to time in the  Company's
reports and  registration  statements  filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.  The  Company  assumes  no  obligation  to  update  the  information
contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information,  future
events or otherwise.
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