OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint (NYSE: FON, PCS) today
announced that it has begun implementing on a multiyear agreement with Oxford
Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: OHP) to provide voice, data and wireless services.
The agreement makes Sprint Oxford's prominent voice and data carrier and
includes all voice services including 800 and private line service, a voice
virtual private network (VPN), a frame relay data network, audio-conferencing,
and other wireless voice and data services.
"We want to provide our members, physicians, employer groups and brokers
with effective means of communicating with the company, and are continuously
searching for ways to be able to offer flexibility while being cost-
effective," said Steve Black, executive vice president, operations and chief
information officer at Oxford. "By working with Sprint, we are creating the
foundation for future system growth to meet our customers' ever-changing
needs."
The first phase of implementation began in early 2003. According to both
companies, Sprint and Oxford will meet regularly to review progress in
implementing the voice, data and wireless services, and determine plans for
future development.
"For both Sprint and Oxford, implementation is everything," said Paul
Deering, vice president, Sprint Business - Northeast. "Sprint knows that in
the healthcare market, companies need to implement new technology without
missing a beat. It is our responsibility to provide a smooth transition from
legacy services and existing providers to new, cost- and time-saving
technologies so that companies like Oxford can meet their business goals to
deliver world-class service to customers."
Sprint is focused on designing solutions that meet the specific needs of
healthcare-related organizations like Oxford. In addition to tailored voice
and data services, Sprint has built a strong security practice that healthcare
organizations can leverage to address HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act) security requirements. Sprint's security assessment can
provide a roadmap for implementing an effective security and management
program for patient information that adheres to HIPAA requirements.
ABOUT OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC.
Founded in 1984, Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (http://www.oxfordhealth.com) provides
health plans to employers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, through its
direct sales force and through independent insurance agents and brokers.
Oxford's services include traditional health maintenance organizations,
point-of-service plans, third-party administration of employer-funded benefit
plans and Medicare+Choice plans.
ABOUT SPRINT
Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than
26 million customers in over 100 countries. With approximately 70,000
employees worldwide and nearly $27 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is
widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art
network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-
digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone.
Sprint provides local voice and data services in 18 states and operates the
largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United
States. For more information, visit http://www.sprint.com.
SOURCE Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.oxfordhealth.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/104612.html
CONTACT:
Media, Jeff Shafer, +1-913-794-3614,
Jeff.s.shafer@mail.sprint.com, or Sprint initiatives in
Healthcare, David Gunasegaram, +1-913-794-3450,
David.gunasegaram@mail.sprint.com
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