FORM OF
                         MANAGEMENT RETENTION AGREEMENT



                  MANAGEMENT RETENTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),  made as of
May 15, 1996 by and between HCIA INC., a Maryland  corporation  (the "Company"),
and the executive  officer named on the signature  page of this  Agreement  (the
"Executive").

                                   WITNESSETH:

                  WHEREAS,  the  Executive  is  currently  a valued  key
executive  of the  Company  or one of its Affiliates (as defined below); and

                  WHEREAS,  the Compensation  Committee (the "Committee") of the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), recognizes that in the event of
a future change in control of the Company,  or any threatened change in control,
uncertainty  and questions  could rise among  management and could result in the
departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company
and its stockholders; and

                  WHEREAS,  the  Company  considers  it  essential  to the  best
interests  of  its  stockholders  to  foster  to  continuous  employment  of key
management  personnel,  such as the  Executive,  in the  event of any  actual or
threatened change in control by providing for the payment of severance  benefits
in the event of the Executive's  termination of employment following a change in
control;

                  NOW,   THEREFORE,   in  consideration  of  the  covenants  and
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                  1.       Employment and Duties

                           The Company  hereby  agrees to employ the  Executive
in the  capacity  indicated on the signature  page of  this  Agreement,  and the
Executive  hereby  accepts  such employment.  During the Term, as defined in
Section 2 below, the Executive shall have such duties as may be assigned  to the
Executive  from time to time by the Board or the  Board's  designee  which are
commensurate  with the duties of the Executive in the capacity  indicated on the
signature  page of this Agreement or such  other,  superior  position to which
the  Executive  may be promoted by the Company in its  discretion.  The
Executive  shall devote  substantially  all his business  time,  attention,
skill and efforts  during the Term to the  faithful performance of his duties
hereunder and shall not accept  employment  elsewhere during the Term.



                  2.       Term

                           The  term  of the  Executive's  employment  under
this  Agreement  (the  "Term")  shall commence  on the date of any Change in
Control  occurring  after the date hereof and shall  continue  in effect
through  the  second  anniversary  thereof.  The provisions  of this  Agreement
shall  continue in effect beyond the Term to the extent  necessary to carry out
the intentions of the parties hereto.  As used in this  Agreement,  a "Change in
Control"  shall be deemed to occur on the date on which one of the following
events occurs:

                           (i)      the  acquisition  by any person  (within the
meaning of Sections  13(d)  and/or 14(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), other than an employee  benefit plan (or
related trust)  sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its
affiliates,  of beneficial  ownership  (within the meaning of the rules
promulgated under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of the then
outstanding  voting  securities of the Company  entitled to vote  generally in
the election of  directors or of equity  securities  having a value  equal to
30% or more of the total value of all equity  securities  of the Company; or

                           (ii)     individuals  who as of the date of this
Agreement  constitute  the Board,  and subsequently  elected  members  of the
Board  whose  election  is  approved  or recommended  by at least  majority of
such current  members or their  successors whose  election  was so  approved  or
recommended,  cease  for  any  reason  to constitute at least a majority of such
Board; or

                           (iii)    a change in the  composition  of a majority
of the Board  within  twelve  (12) months after any person (as defined  above)
is or becomes the  beneficial  owner (as defined above) of securities of the
Company  representing 20% or more of the then  outstanding  securities of the
Company  entitled to vote  generally in the election of  directors  or of equity
securities  having a value equal to 20% or more of the total value of all equity
securities of the Company; or

                           (iv)     a change in  control of a nature  that
would be  required  to be  reported  in response to Item 8(a) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation  14A  promulgated  under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date
of this Agreement.

                  3.       Compensation

                           During the Term the Executive  shall be entitled to
the following  compensation  for his services to the Company:

                                       2



                           (a)      Base Salary.     The Company  shall pay,
and the  Executive  shall  accept,  a base salary  (the "Base  Salary")  at a
rate no less than the  Executive's  base salary in effect immediately prior to
the Change in Control, subject to increase in accordance with the immediately
succeeding sentence. The Base Salary shall be reviewed  at least  annually  by
the  Committee  and may be  increased,  but not decreased,  to reflect the
Executive's  performance  and shall be  increased to provide the  Executive
with such other  increases as shall be  consistent  with increases in base
salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other key executives of the
Company or of any Affiliate.

                           (b)      Cash Bonus.      In addition to the Base
Salary,  the  Executive  shall be paid for each full or partial  fiscal year of
the Company  during the Term, an annual cash bonus (the "Bonus")  pursuant to
the current  bonus and incentive  plans of the Company,  as may be amended or
supplemented by the Company during the Term; provided,  however,  that such
annual  Bonus shall be a  percentage  of the Base Salary payable to the
Executive for the relevant  fiscal year,  which is no less than the Executive's
bonus for the prior fiscal year was as a percentage of the Executive's  Base
Salary  for such year.  Bonuses  shall be paid in cash to the Executive no later
than 30 days  following  the close of each fiscal year during and immediately
following the Term.

                           (c)      Incentive,  Savings and  Retirement  Plans.
In addition to the Base Salary and Bonuses payable  pursuant to this Agreement,
the Executive shall be entitled to participate  in incentive,  savings and
retirement  plans and programs,  whether qualified or non-qualified  (including,
without limitation,  the Company's 1994 Stock  and  Incentive  Plan  and  the
Company's  Savings  Incentive  Plan),  or substantially  equivalent  successor
or substitute plans) of the Company and its Affiliates  applicable to other key
executives,  providing an aggregate level of compensation  (including target
payouts,  where applicable) and benefits no less favorable than in effect prior
to a Change in Control.

                           (d)      Welfare  Benefits Plans. The Executive
and/or the Executive's  family,  as the case may be,  shall be  eligible  for
participation  in and shall  receive  all benefits under each welfare benefit
plan of the Company  applicable to other key executives including without
limitation, all medical, dental, disability,  group life,  accident death and
travel  accident  insurance  plans and programs of the Company and its
Affiliates, upon terms, and at a level of participation, no less favorable than
applicable to other similarly situated  executives of the Company and its
Affiliates.

                           (e)      Expenses.        The   Executive   shall  be
entitled   to   receive   prompt reimbursement for all reasonable  expenses
incurred by him in the performance of his duties for the  Company  which shall
be paid to him in  accordance  with the policies and procedures of the Company
as in effect at any time  thereafter with respect to other key executives.

                                       3



                           (f)      Fringe Benefits. The  Executive  shall be
entitled  to fringe  benefits no less favorable than in effect prior to a Change
in Control.

                           (g)      Office and Support Staff. The  Executive
shall be  entitled  to an  office  or offices of a size and with furnishings and
other  amenities,  and to secretarial and other  assistance,  at least equal to
those available to the Executive prior to a Change in Control.

                           (h)      Vacation.        The  Executive  shall be
entitled to paid  vacation,  and paid holidays in accordance with the policies
of the Company as in effect upon the commencement of the Term.

                           (i)      Application of Severance  Policies  After
the Term.  Upon the expiration of the Term, the Executive  shall become a
participant in the most favorable  severance policy  applicable  to  similarly
situated  executives  of the  Company and its Affiliates   (other  than  as
agreed  to  as  part  of  individual   employment agreements),  with all  years
of  service  with the  Company  and any  Affiliate counted for purposes of the
calculation of such severance benefits.

                           (j)      Stock Options,  etc. Upon the  commencement
of the Term, the Executive shall be fully vested in all stock options,
restricted stocks, restricted stock units and any  other  awards  theretofore
awarded  under  the  Company's  1994  Stock and Incentive Plan, as amended, or
any successor thereto.

                  4.       Termination of Employment

                           (a)      Termination for Cause; Resignation without
Good Reason.       The  Company  may terminate the Executive's  employment
hereunder for Cause (as defined in Section 7 of this Agreement). If the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the
Executive for reasons other than Good Reason (as defined in Section 7 of this
Agreement)  prior to the  expiration of the Term, the Company shall be obligated
to make payment of any  Compensation (as defined in Section 7 of this
Agreement)  earned  prior to the Date of  Termination  (as  defined  in Section
7 of this  Agreement)  but not yet paid to the Executive and any payment from
any employee  benefit plan described in Section 3 of this  Agreement  which
shall be paid in  accordance  with such plan and the  continuation  of  coverage
under any insurance program as required under any such benefit plan or which may
be required by law. The  Executive  shall also be entitled to the payment of any
Bonus  earned but not yet paid,  including,  without  limitation,  any  deferred
Bonus,  and the pro rata amount of the  guaranteed  minimum  Bonus under Section
3(b) of this Agreement if the Date of  Termination  occurs before the end of any
fiscal year.  Except as provided  above,  the Company  shall not be obligated to
make any additional  payments of Compensation or

                                       4



benefits specified in Section 3 of this Agreement for any periods after the Date
of Termination.

                           (b)      Resignation  for Good Reason;  Termination
without Cause.  If the  Executive's employment  is  terminated  by the
Executive  for Good Reason or by the Company without  Cause,  in either case at
any time prior to the expiration of the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to
the following benefits:

                                    (i)     In  addition  to the  payment of all
         Base  Salary and any Bonus earned but not paid, or a pro rata portion
         of the  guaranteed minimum  Bonus  under  Section  3(b) of this
         Agreement  if the Date of Termination  occurs prior to the end of any
         fiscal year,  the Executive also shall, subject to Section 5 of this
         Agreement,  receive payment in cash equal to two times the sum of (x)
         his highest  Base Salary and (y) the highest  Bonus  percentage  paid
         or payable to the Executive at any time prior to his Date of
         Termination  times his  highest  Base Salary (the sum of the amounts
         described in the foregoing clauses (x) and (y) being  referred  to  as
         the  "Reference  Amount").  (For  purposes  of calculating the
         Reference Amount,  "Bonus" shall include cash bonus and the value on
         the grant date,  as determined  by the  Committee,  of any restricted
         stock or restricted  stock units or other awards granted in lieu of
         cash, but excluding the value of any stock options.)

                                    (ii)    For purposes of calculating the
         Executive's  benefit under  any in  force  retirement  plan  (the
         "Retirement  Plan"),  the Executive shall receive an additional two
         years of credited service.

                                    (iii)   Within five business days  following
         the  Termination Date, the Company shall make a lump sum payment to the
         Executive  equal to  the  amount  that  the  Company  would  have
         contributed  for  the Executive's  account under the Company's Savings
         Incentive Plan (or any successor  plan) (the "SIP") in respect of the
         two years  following the Termination  Date,  based on (A) the formula
         for  determining  employer contributions in effect on the Termination
         Date and (B) the Base Salary (and, if such formula takes account of
         bonus  compensation,  the Bonus) used for purposes of determining the
         Reference  Amount,  and calculated without  giving  effect to the
         limitations  provided  for in  Sections 401(a)(17)  and 415 of the
         Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended (the "Code"), or any
         successor provisions thereto.

                                       5



                                    (iv)    Within five business days  following
         the  Termination Date the  Executive  shall  receive a lump sum
         payment of his  account balance as of the Date of Termination  under
         any nonqualified  plan, if any,  maintained  by the  Company or any of
         its  Affiliates  to provide benefits in excess of those  permitted
         under the Code to be provided by the SIP. The Company shall remain
         obligated to pay to the Executive or his  beneficiaries  any  benefits
         to which he or they may be  entitled under any  nonqualified  plan
         maintained  by the Company or any of its Affiliates to provide
         benefits in excess of those  permitted under the Code to be provided by
         the Retirement Plan, if any; such payments shall be made in  accordance
         with the  terms  of such  plans,  and  benefits thereunder  shall take
         account of the two years of additional  credited service provided for
         in clause (ii) above.

                                    (v)     For a  period  of two  years
         following  the  Date of Termination  (the  "Continuation   Period"),
         the  Executive  and  his dependents,  if any,  shall  continue  to
         participate  (at no  greater expense  to them  than  was the case  for
         such  coverage  prior to his termination) in the employee benefit
         arrangements  described in Section 3(d) and 3(f) above; provided,
         however, that the benefits described in Section 3(d) shall cease to the
         extent the  Executive  begins  coverage under plans of a subsequent
         employer.

                                    (vi)    At  the   end  of  the
         Continuation   Period,   the Executive  and his family  shall be
         entitled  for the  remainder of his life to retiree medical and dental
         benefits under any applicable  plans and  programs  of the  Company  as
         if he retired on the last day of the Continuation  Period, with such
         benefits to commence immediately at the end of the  Continuation
         Period and with the amount of contribution by the  Executive to be no
         greater than that of any other  employee of the Company who had retired
         on the last day of the Continuation  Period (it being understood and
         agreed that contribution rates may be changed, and the terms of such
         benefits  may be modified,  to the extent  permitted under the relevant
         plans, from those in effect on the date hereof).

                                    (vii)   During the  Continuation  Period,
         the Company  shall provide the Executive with appropriate individual
         outplacement services and financial planning at the Company's expense.

                                       6



                                    (viii)  The  Executive  shall be fully
         vested  in all  stock options,  restricted stock, restricted stock
         units and any other awards theretofore awarded to him under the
         Company's 1994 Stock and Incentive Plan, as amended, or any successor
         thereto.

                                    (ix)    The  Executive  shall  receive all
         amounts due to him under any  compensatory  plan or  arrangement  of
         the  Company  and not specifically  addressed  above,  in  accordance
         with the  terms of the relevant plan or arrangement.

                           (c)      Death Before End of Term.  If the  Executive
dies prior to the  expiration  of the Term, the Company shall be under no
obligation to make  additional  payments of the Compensation and benefits
described in Section 3 of the Agreement to the Executive's  estate  after  the
Date of  Termination  except,  however,  for any Compensation  earned  prior  to
the  Date  of  Termination  but  not  yet  paid, including, without limitation,
any deferred Bonus and the pro rata amount of the guaranteed  minimum  Bonus
under  Section 3(b) of this  Agreement if the Date of Termination  occurs
before the end of a fiscal year,  and all benefits  payable under the various
plans described in Section 3 of this Agreement, which shall be paid in
accordance  with the terms of all such  applicable  plans.  The Company shall
also  continue to provide any  benefits to the  Executive's  survivors  as
required by law.

                           (d)      Disability.      In the  event  of the
Executive's  Permanent  Disability  (as defined in Section 7 of this Agreement)
prior to the expiration of the Term, the Executive's  employment shall
terminate.  In that event, the Executive shall be entitled  to  continue  to
receive  payment  of the  Compensation  and  benefits described in Section 3 of
the  Agreement  through the end of the Term,  less the amount of any  payment
to the  Executive  on  account  of  disability  from any employer sponsored
disability  insurance plan. In addition,  the Executive shall receive all
benefits  payable under the various plans  described in Section 3 of this
Agreement,  which shall be paid in  accordance  with the terms of all such
applicable plans.

                           (e)      Retirement.      The  Executive  may
terminate  his  employment  on account of Retirement (as defined in Section 7 of
this Agreement).  The Executive shall not be entitled to any further  payments
of Compensation or other benefits  provided under Section 3 of this Agreement
after the Date of Termination,  other than any retirement  benefit payments from
any employer  sponsored plan, any Compensation earned  prior to the date of
Retirement  but not yet paid,  including,  without limitation, any deferred
Bonus and the pro rata amount of the guaranteed minimum Bonus under  Section
3(b) of this  Agreement if the Date of  Termination  occurs before the end of a
fiscal  year,  and all  benefits  payable  under the various plans  described
in  Section  3 of  this  Agreement,  which  shall  be  paid in accordance with
the terms of all such applicable plans.

                                       7



                           (f)      Notice of Termination  Required.  No
termination of employment by the Executive or by the  Company  pursuant  to this
Section 4 shall be  effective  unless the terminating  party shall have
delivered a Notice of  Termination  (as defined in Section 7 of this Agreement)
to the other party.

                           (h)      Nature of  Payments.  Any amounts due under
this Section 4 are in the nature of severance payments, liquidated damages, or
both, and are not in the nature of a penalty.

                  5.       Form of Payment; Mitigation and Offset Provisions

                           (a)      Executive's Election.

                                    (i)     In the event of a  termination  of
         employment  under  Section  4(b) of this Agreement,  the Executive
         shall have an election,  which shall be made by  written  notice  to
         the  Company  no  later  than  the Date of Termination  and which shall
         be subject to subsection (ii) below, to be paid under  Section  4(b)(i)
         an amount equal to one times the Reference Amount either in the form of
         a lump sum payment, which shall be paid no later than five business
         days following the Date of Termination,  or to receive  the  benefits
         provided  for in Section  4(b)(i)  periodically during  the
         Continuation  Period,  in which  case the  portion of such benefits
         corresponding to the Base Salary will be paid in substantially equal
         installments at such intervals (not less frequently than monthly)
         during the first year of the  Continuation  Period as may be determined
         by the Company in accordance with its payroll  practices as established
         from time to time, and the portion of such payment corresponding to the
         Bonus will be paid at such times as bonuses  are  generally  payable to
         executives of the Company and its Affiliates, but in any event not more
         than 30 days following the end of the Company's  relevant  fiscal year.
         The  Executive's  failure to make an election  in writing  prior to the
         Termination  Date shall be treated as an  election  to receive the lump
         sum payment provided for in the preceding sentence. The Executive shall
         not have an election as to the form of payment  with respect to amounts
         in excess of one times  the  Reference  Amount to which he is  entitled
         under  Section  4(b)(i);  such amounts  shall be paid to the  Executive
         periodically, commencing as of the first anniversary of the Termination
         Date,  in the  manner  provided  for  periodic  payments  in the  first
         sentence  of this  Section  5(a),  and shall be  subject  to the offset
         provisions of Section 5(b).

                                    (ii)    Notwithstanding  anything  in
         subsection  (i)  above,  if  during  the Continuation Period the
         Executive becomes employed by, or is engaged to provide  services  for
         pay  as  a  consultant  or  other   independent contractor  (but
         excluding  service  solely  as a member of a board of directors),  to

                                       8



         any  party  other  than  the  Company  or  any  of its Affiliates  (a
         "Third  Party  Employer"),  then  any  election  by the Executive to
         receive payments under Section 4(b)(i)  periodically shall no longer be
         in effect,  and the Company  shall make a lump sum payment to the
         Executive within five business days after having received notice of
         such other  employment  or services  arrangement  of any amount that
         remains due to the Executive under Section  4(b)(i),  such amount to be
         determined as provided in Section 5(b) of this Agreement.

                           (b)      Offset.  In the event of any  termination of
the  Executive's  employment,  the Executive shall be under no obligation to
seek other  employment or otherwise to mitigate  damages  resulting from his
termination  of employment.  In addition, there shall be no offset  against
amounts due to the  Executive  under  Section 4(b)(i)  equal to one times the
Reference  Amount,  or against  amounts due the Executive  under  any other
provision  of this  Agreement,  on  account  of any remuneration  to  which  the
Executive  becomes  entitled  from a  Third  Party Employer,  other than as
provided in Section 4(b)(v) relating to continuation of benefits  coverage.
With respect to amounts under Section  4(b)(i) in excess of one times the
Reference  Amount,  such amounts shall be offset by the amount of cash
compensation  to  which  the  Executive  becomes  entitled,  or  which  is
voluntarily  deferred at his request,  during the  Continuation  Period,  from a
Third Party Employer.  Promptly upon becoming engaged by a Third Party Employer,
the Executive  shall provide the Company with written notice of such  engagement
and  shall set forth the  terms of his  compensation,  including  any  amount of
guaranteed  or target  bonus;  within five  business days of the receipt of such
notice, the Company shall make a lump-sum payment to the Executive equal to:

                           (X)      one  times  the  Reference  Amount  less
         any  amount  previously  paid  to the Executive pursuant to Section
         4(b)(i); plus

                           (Y) (1) the amount that remains due to the  Executive
         under Section 4(b)(i) after giving effect to the preceding  clause (X),
         reduced by (2) the amount of cash  compensation  to which the Executive
         will  become  entitled  during the  Continuation  Period from the Third
         Party  Employer  (including  any  amounts  which are to be  voluntarily
         deferred at his  request)  based on the  compensation  information  set
         forth  in his  notice  to the  Company,  including  therein  a pro rata
         portion  (based on the  number of days  remaining  in the  Continuation
         Period)  of any  guaranteed  or  target  bonus.  The  Company  and  the
         Executive  shall use their good faith  efforts to agree upon the offset
         amount,  but in the event they are unable to agree, the amount proposed
         by the  Executive,  and certified by an  independent  certified  public
         account selected by the Executive, shall control.

                  6.       Protection of the Company's Interests

                                       9



                           (a)      Confidential Information. Except  for
actions  taken  in  the  course  of  his employment  hereunder  or as  required
by law,  at no time shall the  Executive divulge,  furnish  or  make  accessible
to  any  person  any  information  of a confidential  or proprietary  nature
obtained by him while in the employ of the Company.  Upon  termination  of his
employment  with the Company,  the Executive shall  return to the Company  all
such  information  which  exists in written or other  physical  form and all
copies  thereof  in his  possession  or under his control.

                           (b)      Remedies.        The  Executive
acknowledges  that  a  breach  of  any  of the covenants contained in this
Section 6 may result in material  irreparable injury to the Company or its
Affiliates  for which there is no adequate  remedy at law, that will not be
possible to measure  damages for such  injuries  precisely  and that,  in the
event of such  breach  or threat  thereof,  the  Company  shall be entitled,  in
addition to any other rights or remedies it may have,  to obtain a temporary
restraining  order  and/or  a  preliminary  or  permanent  injunction enjoining
or restraining the Executive from engaging in activities prohibited by this
Section 6. If there  occurs a breach of this  Section 6 above,  the Company
shall be  entitled  to cease all  payments  and  benefits  required  under  this
Agreement.

                  7.       Definitions

                           As used in this Agreement,  the following terms shall
have the following meanings:

                           (a)      Cause.  Each of the following shall
                                    constitute "Cause":

                                    (i)     the willful  commission  by the
         Executive  of acts that are  dishonest and  demonstrably  and
         materially  injurious  to the  Company  or any of its  Affiliates,
         monetarily  or otherwise;

                                    (ii)    the  conviction  of the  Executive
         for a felonious  act  resulting  in material harm to the financial
         condition or business  reputation of the Company or any of its
         Affiliates; or

                                    (iii)   a  material  breach of any of the
         covenants  set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.

                           (b)      Good  Reason.  For  purposes  of this
Agreement,  "Good  Reason"  shall  mean, without the Executive's express written
consent, any of the following:

                                    (i)     a  substantial  adverse  alteration
         in the  nature  or  status  of the Executive's duties or
         responsibilities or in the Executive's title;

                                       10



                                    (ii)    the  failure  of  the  Company  to
         pay  when  due  the  Executive  any Compensation  or provide other
         benefits as specified in this Agreement or a  reduction  by the
         Company  in the  Executive's  Compensation  or benefits  or a failure
         by the  Company  to  increase  the  Executive's Compensation as
         required in Section 3 of this Agreement;

                                    (iii)   the  relocation  of the office of
         the Executive to a location more than 25 miles from the location where
         the Executive is employed immediately prior to the Change in Control;

                                    (iv)    the  failure by the  Company  to
         continue  in effect any  compensation plan in which the Executive
         participates,  including but not limited to all plans described in
         Section 3 of this  Agreement,  or any substitute plans  adopted after
         the date hereof,  unless an equitable  arrangement (embodied in an
         ongoing  substitute or alternative  plan) has been made with  respect
         to such plan,  or the  failure by the Company to continue the
         Executive's  participation therein on at least as favorable a basis as
         that enjoyed by other similarly  situated  executives of the Company
         and its Affiliates;

                                    (v)     the failure by the Company to
         continue to provide the  Executive  with benefits  at least as
         favorable  to those  enjoyed by other  similarly situated  executives
         of the Company and its Affiliates under any of the Company's  pension,
         life  insurance,   medical,   dental,  health  and accident,
         disability,  deferred  compensation or savings plans, or the taking of
         any action by the Company which would  directly or indirectly
         materially  reduce any of such benefits or deprive the Executive of any
         material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive; or

                                    (vi)    the failure to obtain a
         satisfactory  agreement  from any successor of the  Company  to  assume
         and  agree  to  perform  this  Agreement,  as contemplated in Section 8
         hereof or, if the business of the Company for which the Executive's
         services are principally  performed is sold, the purchaser of such
         business shall fail to agree to provide the Executive with the same or
         a comparable position,  duties, salary and benefits as provided to the
         Executive by the Company hereunder.

                           (c)      Notice of Termination.    For  purposes  of
this   Agreement,   a  "Notice  of Termination"  shall mean a written  notice
which shall  indicate  the  specific termination  provision  in this  Agreement
relied  upon and  shall set forth in reasonable  detail  the facts and
circumstances  claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated.

                                       11



                           (d)      Date of  Termination.  "Date  of
Termination"  shall  mean  (A) in the case of Retirement or death, the date of
such event,  (B) if the Executive's  employment is  terminated  for  Permanent
Disability,  thirty  (30) days after a Notice of Termination is given (provided
that the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time  performance  of the
Executive's  duties  during such thirty (30) day period),  and (C) for any other
reason,  the date  specified  in the  Notice of Termination  (which,  in the
case of a  termination  for Cause shall not be less than thirty (30) days,  and
in the case of a  termination  by the  Executive for Good  Reason  shall not be
less than  thirty  (30) nor more than sixty (60) days from the date such Notice
of Termination is given); provided that (except in the case of a termination by
the Executive for Good Reason or by the Company without Cause) if within thirty
(30) days after any Notice of  Termination  is given the party  receiving  such
Notice of  Termination  notifies  the other party that a dispute exists
concerning the termination,  the Date of Termination shall be the date on which
the  dispute  is  finally  determined,  either  by mutual  written agreement  of
the  parties,  by a  binding  arbitration  award,  or by a  final judgment,
order or decree of a court of  competent  jurisdiction  (which is not appealable
or the time for appeal there from having expired and no appeal having been
perfected); provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a
notice only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such
notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence.  In the
case of any Notice of  Termination,  notwithstanding  the  pendency  of any such
dispute,  the  Company  will  continue  to pay  the  Executive  the  Executive's
Compensation  in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given and
continue to provide the Executive with all additional  benefits  provided for in
Section 3 of this Agreement until the dispute is finally  resolved in accordance
with this  Subsection,  without regard to whether the dispute extends beyond the
Term. Amounts paid under this Subsection in connection with a termination by the
Executive  for Good Reason or by the Company  without  Cause shall be subtracted
from any other amounts due under this Agreement,  and amounts paid in connection
with any other  termination  are in addition to all other amounts due under this
Agreement and shall not be offset  against or reduce any other amounts due under
this Agreement.

                           (e)      Permanent  Disability.  "Permanent
Disability"  shall mean a disability within the meaning of the  long-term
disability  plan of the Company  which covers the Executive immediately prior to
the Change in Control.

                           (f)      Retirement.      "Retirement"  shall  mean
the  voluntary  termination  of the Executive's  employment by the Executive in
accordance with the Retirement Plan, if any, or any other plan or the retirement
policy of the Company.

                           (g)      Affiliate.       The term  "Affiliate"
includes any company or other entity or person controlling, controlled by or
under common control with the Company.

                                       12



                           (h)      Compensation.    The  term  "Compensation"
shall  mean  all  amounts  paid  or payable to the Executive pursuant to
Sections 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) of this Agreement.

                  8.       Successors; Binding Agreement

                           (a)      The  Company  will  require  any  successor
(whether  direct or  indirect,  by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise)
to all or substantially all of the business  and/or assets of the Company to
expressly  assume and agree to perform this  Agreement in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place.  Failure of the Company to obtain such  assumption
and agreement prior to the  effectiveness  of any such  succession  shall be a
breach of this  Agreement and shall entitle the Executive  to  compensation
from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms  as the  Executive
would  be  entitled  hereunder  if the  Executive  had terminated  his
employment  for  Good  Reason,  except  that  for  purposes  of implementing
the  foregoing,  the date on which  any  such  succession  becomes effective
shall be deemed the Date of Termination.

                           (b)      This  Agreement  shall  inure  to the
benefit  of and  be  enforceable  by the Executive's  personal  or  legal
representatives,   executors,  administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees. If the Executive should die while any amount  would
still be payable  hereunder  if the  Executive  had continued to live, all such
amounts,  unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement to the Executive's  devisee, legatee or other designee
or, if there is no such designee,  to the  Executive's estate.

                  9.       Indemnification

                           The Company will  indemnify the  Executive to the
fullest  extent  permitted  (including payment of express in advance of final
disposition of a proceeding) by the laws of the  State  of  Maryland,  as in
effect  at the time of the  subject  act or omission,  or by the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company,  as in effect  at such  time or on the
date of this  Agreement,  whichever  affords  or afforded  greatest  protection
to the  Executive,  and the  Executive  shall be entitled to the  protection of
any  insurance  policies the Company may elect to maintain  generally  for the
benefit of its  directors  and officers (and to the extent the Company maintains
such an insurance policy or policies, the Executive shall be covered by such
policy or  policies,  in  accordance  with its or their terms, to the maximum
extent of the coverage provided for any Company officer or director),  against
all costs,  charges  and  expenses  whatsoever  incurred or sustained by him or
his legal  representatives  at the time such costs,  charges and expenses are
incurred or sustained,  in connection with any action,  suit or proceeding to
which he may be made a party by reason of his being or having been a director,
officer or employee of the Company or any subsidiary thereof, or his serving

                                       13



or having served any other enterprise as a director, officer or employee at the
request of the Company.

                  10.      Notices

                           Any  notice  hereunder  by  either  party to the
other  shall be  given in  writing  by personal delivery,  telex, telecopy or
certified mail, return receipt requested, to the  address  first set forth
below in the case of the  Company,  and to the address set forth on the
signature page hereof in the case of the Executive (or, in either case,  to such
other address as may from time to time be designated by notice by any party
hereto for such purpose):

                            HCIA Inc.
                            300 East Lombard Street
                            Baltimore, Maryland 21202
                            Attn:  Corporate Secretary

Notice  shall be deemed  given,  if by  personal  delivery,  on the date of such
delivery or, if by telex or telecopy,  on the business day following  receipt of
answer back or telecopy confirmation or, if by certified mail, on the date shown
on the applicable return receipt.

                  11.      Amendment and Waiver

                           No provision of this  Agreement may be amended,
modified,  waived or discharged  unless such  amendment,  modification,  waiver
or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the  Executive and such
officer as may be  specifically  designated by the  Board.  No waiver by either
party  hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or
compliance  with,  any condition or provision of this Agreement  to be
performed  by such  other  party  shall be  deemed a waiver of similar or
dissimilar  provisions  or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent
time.

                  12.      Merger of Prior Negotiations

                           This   Agreement   sets  forth  all  of  the
promises,   agreements,   conditions   and understandings  between the parties
hereto  respecting the subject matter hereof and   supersedes   all   prior
negotiations,    conversations,    discussions, correspondence,  memoranda and
agreements  between the parties  concerning  such subject matter.

                  13.      Partial Invalidity

                           If  the  final  determination  of  a  court  of
competent  jurisdiction  or  arbitrator declares,  after the  expiration  of the
time within which  judicial  review (if

                                       14



permitted) of such  determination  may be perfected,  that any term or provision
hereof is invalid or unenforceable, (a) the remaining term and provisions hereof
shall be unimpaired and (b) the invalid or unenforceable term or provision shall
be deemed replaced by a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that
comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or  unenforceable  term
or provision.

                  14.      Governing Law

                           This Agreement is to be governed by and  interpreted
in accordance  with the laws of the State of Maryland, exclusive of its conflict
of laws principles.

                  15.      Counterparts

                           This  Agreement  may be  executed  in two or more
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

                  16.      Reduction of Payments In Certain Cases

                           Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the  contrary,
if any amounts due to the Executive under this Agreement  (including  without
limitation any amount due pursuant to Section 4) and any other plan or program
of the Company  constitute a "parachute payment,"  as such term is defined in
Section  280G(b)(2)  of the Code,  and the amount of the parachute payment,
reduced by all federal,  state and local taxes applicable thereto, including the
excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code, is less than the amount
the  Executive  would receive if the Executive were paid  three  times the
Executive's  "base  amount,"  as defined in Section 280G(b)(3)  of the Code,
less $1.00,  reduced by all  federal,  state and local taxes  applicable
thereto,  then the aggregate of the amounts  constituting the parachute  payment
shall be reduced to an amount that will equal three times the Executive's base
amount less $1.00. The  determinations  to be made with respect to this Section
16 shall be made by an accounting firm (the  "Auditor")  jointly selected  by
the  Company  and the  Executive  and paid by the  Company.  If the Executive
and the Company cannot agree on the firm to serve as the Auditor, then the
Executive and the Company  shall each select one  accounting  firm and these two
firms shall jointly select the accounting firm to serve as the Auditor. If a
determination  is made by the Auditor that a reduction  in the  aggregate of all
payments  due to the  Executive  upon a Change in  Control is  required  by this
Section  16, the  Executive  shall have the right to specify the portion of such
reduction,  if any,  that will be made  under  this  Agreement  and each plan or
program of the  Company.  If the  Executive  does not so specify  within 60 days
following the date of a determination  by the Auditor  pursuant to the preceding
sentence,  the Company shall determine,  in its sole discretion,  the portion of
such reduction, if any, to be made under this Agreement and each plan or program
of the Company.

                                       15



                  17.      Arbitration

                           Any dispute or controversy  arising under or in
connection  with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in
Baltimore, Maryland in accordance with the rules of the American  Arbitration
Association then in effect.  Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's  award
in any court having  jurisdiction;  provided, however,  that the Executive
shall be entitled to seek specific  performance of the  Executive's  right to be
paid  until  the Date of  Termination  during  the pendency of any dispute or
controversy  arising under or in connection with this Agreement. The Company
shall promptly reimburse the Executive for all legal fees and expenses  incurred
by the Executive in connection with a successful claim to enforce his rights
under this Agreement.

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have  executed  this
Agreement under seal as of the day and year first above written.

                             HCIA INC.



                             By: ___________________________________(SEAL)
                                   George D. Pillari
                                   Chairman, President and Chief
                                   Executive Officer


                             EXECUTIVE


                             _______________________________________(SEAL)
                             Name:
                             Title:
                             Address: