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EXHIBIT 10.9 

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     THIS AGREEMENT is entered into on the 29th day of January, 1999 by and
between UNITED PAYORS & UNITED PROVIDERS, INC. ("UP&UP" or the "Company") and
THOMAS L. BLAIR ("Employee") residing at 11610 Highland Farm Road, Potomac, MD
20854.  This Agreement shall become effective on January 1, 1999 ("Effective
Date").

     WHEREAS, UP&UP desires to employ Employee to devote full-time to the
business of UP&UP, and Employee desires to be so employed.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises of
the parties hereto, UP&UP and Employee agree as follows:

     1.  Employment.  UP&UP agrees to employ Employee and Employee agrees to be
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so employed in the capacity of Chairman of the Board.  The term of this
Agreement shall be a two year period subsequent to the Effective Date.  The
Agreement shall be automatically renewed for an additional two-year period if
the company does not give the Employee a notice of non-renewal six months prior
to the expiration of the Agreement.

     2.  Time and Efforts.  Employee shall diligently and conscientiously devote
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his full and exclusive time and attention, and his best efforts to the discharge
of his duties as Chairman of the Board of UP&UP.  Employee shall at all times
discharge his duties, which shall be those normally performed by a Chairman of
the Board, in the best interest of UP&UP.  In the performance of his duties,
Employee shall make his principal office at 2275 Research Boulevard, Rockville,
MD 20850, or other office location within the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area
that may be next occupied by UP&UP, unless mutually agreed otherwise in writing
by UP&UP and Employee.

     3.  Compensation.  During the term of this Agreement UP&UP shall pay to
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Employee as compensation ("Compensation") for his services a base salary in the
amount of three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) per year.  This salary
is guaranteed by UP&UP through the term of this Agreement and is subject to
periodic increases as recommended by the Compensation Committee to the Board of
Directors of UP&UP.  Additionally, Employee shall be paid an annual incentive
bonus ("Bonus") amount equal to one percent (1%) of UP&UP's annual after tax
earnings.

     4.  Expenses Reimbursement.  UP&UP shall reimburse Employee for all
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reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by him in carrying out his duties
under this Agreement.  Employee shall present to UP&UP from time to time an
itemized account of such expenses in forms as may be required by UP&UP and upon
acceptance and payment of expenses, expenses shall be considered reasonable and
necessary.

     5.  Automobile.  In recognition of Employee's need for an automobile for
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business and other purposes, UP&UP will provide Employee with an automobile
allowance which will be payable quarterly.

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     6.  Employee Benefits.  Employee shall be eligible to participate in the
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various employee benefits plans that may be offered by UP&UP, including but not
limited to a stock purchase plan, stock option plan, medical and hospitalization
plan, life insurance, long term disability, incentive savings plan, and pension
plan, made available in the ordinary course of business to similarly situated
executive employees of UP&UP and its subsidiaries.  Additionally, UP&UP shall
seek to obtain a term life insurance policy, in an amount established and agreed
to by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of UP&UP, on Employee
to be paid to beneficiary named by Employee.

     7.  Obligation of UP&UP on Termination of Employment by UP&UP.  Except for
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cause, if during the term of this Agreement, UP&UP shall terminate the services
of Employee, or if during the term of this Agreement Employee is permanently
disabled or deceased, UP&UP shall nevertheless cause UP&UP to continue the
payments provided for herein for the term of the contract, but not less than
twelve (12) months, to Employee or his heirs or estate, as the case may be.

     8.  Obligations of UP&UP and Employee on Termination of Employee by UP&UP
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for Cause or Resignation by Employee.  If during any time of employment, (1)
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Employee should be terminated for cause; or (2) Employee should resign, then
UP&UP shall have no obligation to pay Employee any form of compensation defined
in this Agreement.  In the event Employee resigns, for a period of two years
subsequent to the date of such resignation, Employee shall not solicit or
contract with, either directly or through third parties, entities contracting
with UP&UP, including UP&UP payor clients and contracting providers.  For a
period of two years from the date Employee resigns, Employee shall not assist,
in any manner, any individual or entity that may be, or seek to become, a
competitor of UP&UP.

     9.  Change in Control.  In the event that there is a change in control of
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UP&UP, Employee shall receive the Compensation and Bonus payments for a period
of two (2) years.  Change in control of UP&UP shall be deemed to have occurred
if:

         (a) Any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) is or becomes the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of
the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or

         (b) During any period of twenty-four consecutive months, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority thereof unless the election, or the nomination
for election by the Company's shareholders, of each new director was approved by
a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were
directors at the beginning of the period; or

         (c) The Stockholders of the Company approve a definitive agreement

             (i) for the merger or other business combination of the Company
with or into another corporation pursuant to which the Company will not survive
or will survive only as a subsidiary of another corporation;

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            (ii) for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company;

           (iii) for the merger of another corporation into the Company which
survives if, as a result of such merger less than fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company shall be owned in the aggregate
immediately after such merger by the owners of the voting shares of the Company
outstanding immediately prior to such merger;

            (iv) for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

             (v)  any combination of the foregoing.

         (d) For purposes of defining a "change in control of the Company,"
Employee recognizes that the consummation of a transaction involving the
transfer of 4,500,000 shares of UP&UP common stock into a Delaware Divestment
Trust resulting in the beneficial ownership of such shares by Employee will not
result in a "change in control of the Company."  Further, Employee recognizes
that the Capital Z transaction with selling shareholders, including the purchase
of 1,750,000 shares of UP&UP common stock and the option to purchase 2,250,000
shares of UP&UP common stock, does not constitute a "change in control of the
Company."  However, further transactions involving  Capital Z's common stock
ownership position in the Company or sales of UP&UP common stock from the
Independent Divestment Trust will be subject to the provisions of this 
paragraph 9.

     10.  Notices.  All notices required or permitted to be given under this
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Agreement shall be given by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
parties at the following addresses as either may be designated in writing to the
other party:

          If to UP&UP:        Edward S. Civera and/or Board of Directors
                              United Payors & United Providers, Inc.
                              2275 Research Boulevard, 6th Floor
                              Rockville, MD 20850

          If to Employee:     Thomas L. Blair
                              11610 Highland Farm Road
                              Potomac, MD 20854

     11.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
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accordance with the laws of Maryland.

     12.  Entire Contract.  This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding
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and agreement between UP&UP and Employee with regard to all matters herein up to
the date of this Agreement.  This Agreement may be amended only in writing,
signed by both parties hereto.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement.


                                    EMPLOYEE

January 29, 1999                    /s/ Thomas L. Blair
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Date                                Thomas L. Blair


                                    UNITED PAYORS & UNITED PROVIDERS, INC.

January 29, 1999                    By: /s/ Edward S. Civera 
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Date                                   Edward S. Civera
                                       President and Chief Operating Officer

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