Three Other Customers Choose Remote Access to the Client/Server System
NEW YORK, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- IMS HEALTH (NYSE: RX) today announced
that its Erisco Managed Care Technologies unit has added Community Health Plan
to the growing client roster for Facets(TM), its software-based business
solution for managed care organizations (MCOs). Based in St. Joseph, Missouri,
Community Health Plan selected the Facets client/server information system to
help address the demands of rapid growth and expanding membership. IMS HEALTH
is the world's leading provider of information solutions to the pharmaceutical
and healthcare industries.
With a customer base that has expanded from 4,400 in July 1995 to more
than 42,000 today, Community Health Plan's growth had outpaced its current
managed care information technology system, according to Randa Anderson-Stice,
director of network services and claims at Community Health Plan. "We knew we
needed a managed care system that would give us both the flexibility to grow
and the ability to meet the challenges ahead," said Anderson-Stice.
"Selecting Facets was an easy decision," she continued, noting that
Community Health Plan had identified five candidate firms based on references,
Y2K compliance, cost-effective programs, and history of long-term commitment
to customers and the industry. "In the product demonstration phase, it became
very apparent that Facets was clearly a superior product because of the
flexibility it offers and its ease of use."
As a subsidiary of a larger, integrated delivery system -- Heartland
Health -- Community Health Plan needed to purchase a system that could
connect all of its various components into the health plan. Facets will help
the MCO accomplish key operational goals that include seamless billing, batch
claims adjudication, and the timely and direct flow of data into profiling
information.
"MCOs need flexible, scalable IT systems to manage the growth and
constant change that is typical of today's managed care environment," said
James Donnelly, assistant vice president of marketing and product strategy at
Erisco Managed Care Technologies. "Like many MCOs, Community Health Plan has
experienced significant growth in recent years. Facets is by far the most
production-proven, scalable, client/server solution for managed care, making
it the ideal selection for an MCO looking to keep pace with industry growth
and change."
Donnelly added that three new "service" customers -- Country Life
Insurance Company of Bloomington, Illinois, FCCI Insurance Group of Sarasota,
Florida, and Renaissance Health Plan of Wellesley, Massachusetts -- also have
signed on for Facets. Using a Service Bureau license for remote access to the
system, these companies connect to Facets via a telecommunications link. The
Erisco Managed Care Technologies Service Bureau maintains the installation and
operation of the Facets systems at its headquarters.
"Technology is critical to the success of health plans today," remarked
Donnelly. "Through Service Bureau operations and a telecommunications link,
smaller, start-up companies can tap into Facets without having to make a large
data center and operations investment."
Founded in 1968, Erisco Managed Care Technologies is a leading provider of
software-based business solutions and services for managed care organizations.
Its innovative information technology solutions serve HMOs, PPOs, Blue Cross
Blue Shield organizations and managed indemnity organizations, which currently
manage health care administration for more than 35 million lives worldwide.
IMS HEALTH
Erisco Managed Care Technologies is a unit of IMS HEALTH (NYSE: RX), the
world's leading provider of information solutions to the pharmaceutical and
healthcare industries. With more than $1 billion in 1997 revenue, IMS HEALTH
operates in over 90 countries. IMS HEALTH is the largest pharmaceutical
manufacturer information partner, with over 40 years' experience in the
industry. Key products and services integral to customer day-to-day operations
include: market research for prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical
products; sales management information to optimize sales force productivity;
technology enabled selling solutions for sales and marketing decision-making;
and technology systems and information services that support managed care
organizations. Additional information on Erisco Managed Care Technologies can
be obtained from its Web site: http://www.erisco.imshealth.com. Additional
information and previous press releases are available at IMS HEALTH's Web Site
at http://www.imshealth.com.
SOURCE IMS HEALTH
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http://www.imshealth.com
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http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/115785.html or fax,
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CONTACT:
AnnMarie Kemp or Rebecca Kuchar of IMS
HEALTH, 860-659-0514
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