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                       MATRIA APPOINTS STEPHEN M. MENGERT
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER


     Marietta,  GA, September 3,  2002--Matria  Healthcare,  Inc.  (NASDAQ:MATR)
today announced the  appointment of Stephen M. Mengert,  age 53, to the position
of Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. He will report to Matria
Chairman,  President and Chief Executive  Officer,  Parker H. Petit, and will be
responsible for all financial, accounting and related functions.

     Immediately prior to joining Matria,  Mr. Mengert, a partner with Tatum CFO
Partners,  LLP, served as Chief Financial  Officer of Tatum client  companies in
the technology and healthcare sectors.  Prior to his association with Tatum, Mr.
Mengert served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief  Financial  Officer
of Pediatric  Services of America,  at that time a $350 million  public  company
specializing  in  pediatric  home care for  medically  fragile  children.  Prior
thereto,  Mr.  Mengert  served as Senior  Vice  President  of Finance  and Chief
Financial  Officer  of  Rehability  Corporation,  a  $200  million  organization
operating  outpatient and in-hospital  therapy clinics  providing  occupational,
speech and physical therapies.

     Mr.  Petit  commented  on the  appointment,  "Steve  Mengert has  extensive
knowledge of the  healthcare  industry and twelve years CFO  experience  raising
capital, directing mergers and acquisitions, leading the accounting function and
managing  significant-sized  reimbursement  operations. He brings to Matria over
sixteen years of healthcare  experience and  considerable  expertise in investor
and banking  relations.  Steve will play a vital role in the continued growth of
our Company and development of our businesses."

     Mr.  Mengert is  replacing  George W.  Dunaway who will be  remaining  with
Matria for the next two  months to support  the  Company  in the  transition  of
duties.  Mr. Petit added.  "We appreciate the  contributions  George Dunaway has
made to Matria and we will miss his involvement in our Company."

     Matria is the leading provider of comprehensive disease management programs
to health plans and employers for women's  health and the chronic  conditions of
diabetes,  cardiovascular  disease, and respiratory disorders.  Headquartered in
Marietta,  Georgia,  Matria has more than 40  offices  in the United  States and
internationally.   More  information   about  Matria  can  be  found  online  at
www.matria.com.

     This press release contains forward-looking statements,  including, without
limitation, statements as to the continued growth of the Company and development
of its business.  Among the important factors that could cause actual results to
differ  materially  from  those  indicated  by such  forward-looking  statements
include developments in the healthcare industry,  third-party actions over which
Matria does not have  control,  regulatory  requirements  applicable to Matria's
business and the risk factors  detailed  from time to time in Matria's  periodic
reports and  registration  statements  filed with The  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission,  including  Matria's  Annual  report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2001. By making these forward-looking  statements,  Matria does not
undertake  to update  them in any manner  except as may be  required by Matria's
disclosure  obligations  in filings it makes with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission under the federal securities laws.

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