American Hospital Association Endorses Trans Union's Credit Risk Management Tools.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 25, 2000

AHA Financial Solutions Inc. (AHA-FSI) has awarded the exclusive AHA endorsement to Trans Union LLC's (TU) Credit Risk Management Program.

Trans Union's products will be made available to some 5,000 hospitals nationwide through AHA-FSI, a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association (AHA). The program equips hospitals and health systems with a variety of decision-support tools to help them manage financial losses tied to bad debt and fraud.

In 1998, hospitals' total uncompensated care bill was $19 billion nationally, including charity care and care for individuals who could pay, but did not. Hospitals also are victims of fraud by patients who give false names, addresses and other information. More than a third of the nation's hospitals are operating in the red, according to AHA.

"America's hospitals care for everyone who comes through their doors, regardless of ability to pay," noted Tony Spohn, AHA-FSI vice president. "But we have a responsibility to be certain those who can pay for medical services pay what they can."

Spohn said the numbers of uninsured Americans - now at about 44 million - is on the rise and with them comes a greater burden of charity care. "The services of Trans Union will give hospitals information and technology to help them be better stewards of resources. Charity care must be reserved for those who are most in need."

He also pointed out that hospitals are currently trying to weather a serious financial storm brought on by cutbacks by the government, insurers and managed care companies, as well as the rising costs of pharmaceuticals and of recruiting and retaining experienced caregivers.

About 400 U.S. hospitals currently use TU's programs, according to Neal Smith, national sales manager of TU's Healthcare Information Solutions Group. Based in Chicago, TU is a worldwide provider of information and decision-processing services.

"Our products have a proven track record of helping hospitals manage more efficiently and increasing their ability to meet their missions of serving their entire communities," Smith said.

For additional information on the AHA-endorsed Credit Risk Management Program, contract Mary Gillard, AHA-FSI Account Executive at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail].

The American Hospital Association is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care, and 37,000 individuals. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA web site at www.aha.org.

AHA Financial Solutions Inc. (AHA-FSI) is the insurance and financial product marketing subsidiary of the AHA. It is an industry advocate and resource agency to AHA-member hospitals and other health care organizations. AHA-FSI evaluates the marketplace and collaborates with companies to create strategic financial solutions and insurance products and services for health care professionals. It has an exclusive sponsorship of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), a professional association that includes more than 30,000 health care financial executives. For more information visit the web site at www.aha.org/resources/aboutiri.html.

Trans Union is one of the nation's leading information companies, serving all 50 states through its own sales offices and independent credit bureaus. The company provides a broad range of industries with products and services that include credit reports, risk scoring models, target marketing systems, pre-employment evaluation reports, skip tracing and search tools, customized lists, as well as other information-based products. Trans Union has operations in Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Kenya and Hong Kong. For more information visit the company web site at www.transunion.com.