BCE Emergis Signs Agreement with Coordinated Vision Care.

Business & High Tech Editors/Health & Medical Writers

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 6, 2000

(TSE:IFM.)

Major Internet Commerce Solution in U.S. Healthcare 

BCE Emergis announced today the signing of a contract to collaboratively develop and implement an e-Commerce model for the delivery of vision care for Coordinated Vision Care Inc. (CVC).

CVC, a UnitedHealth Group Company, is the vision benefit management company responsible for managing UnitedHealthcare's enhanced Vision Program. UnitedHealthcare Group (www.unitedhealthgroup.com) provides a broad spectrum of resources and services to help people achieve improved health and well-being through all stages of life. UnitedHealth Group is organized into six businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Uniprise, Ovations, Specialized Care Services, Ingenix, and UnitedHealth Capital.

As UnitedHealth Group's vision benefit management company, CVC contracts with providers, frame suppliers and lens laboratories as a means of managing prices and quality.

BCE Emergis' Assure Health Division was chosen from six possible vendors, each of whom submitted a bid in a tender process. Under development for the last 12 months, CVC's new e-commerce solution is now being implemented in Ohio and Colorado.

"This is our first U.S. contract and a first of its kind in North America," said George Blake, Senior Vice President, BCE Emergis, Assure Health Division. "We're providing CVC with a system for virtually paperless administration. Our e-commerce solution will help CVC provide health plan members with the best possible value in vision care benefits. Coupled with the recent announcement regarding the acquisition of United Payors & United Providers, Inc., this contract positions us as a leading U.S. e-commerce provider to the Healthcare industry."

Using leading edge technology, including object-oriented programming, BCE Emergis' e-commerce solution combines delivery, adjudication, order management and order supply in a single transaction set. Providers will use it to verify patient eligibility and submit claims via web-enabled technology or IVR, while members will be able to review which benefits they're entitled to, verify their eligibility, and find a local doctor by keying in their zip code.

Said Dr. David M. Sobkowiak, COO and co-founder of CVC, "Vision care is a very important wellness benefit. But the value of this benefit depends on the delivery system. Many systems simply fail to integrate key elements affecting the patient's episode of care. Vision care involves the professional who performs the eye exam, the lens maker and the frame supplier. It's a team effort and coordination is key. A whole new level of seamless yet flexible control and coordination is what BCE Emergis' customized e-commerce solution is giving us. That's why we believe it's a major step forward in our ability to provide top quality service to health plan members, providers and vendors."

UnitedHealthcare designs and operates health benefits systems with commercial, Medicare and Medicaid products. Today, the company serves approximately 8.6 million individual consumers as members of its health service systems. On behalf of these members, the company arranges access to care with more that 340,000 physicians and 3,500 hospitals across 44 U.S. markets and several international markets.

CVC coordinates every element affecting the member's episode of care, contracting with vision care providers, lens laboratories and frame suppliers to manage costs and quality. Through CVC's management services, UnitedHealthcare is able to provide a consistent value in vision care professional services and materials to members across the country.

BCE Emergis delivers network-centric Internet commerce business solutions that improve customer processes through the exchange of secure transactions. Combining Internet commerce services, network infrastructure, security services, and payment solutions through industry vertical applications, BCE Emergis offers a full suite of core technologies that are the essential building blocks for electronic commerce. BCE Emergis, is among the top electronic commerce providers in North America and is listed on the TSE 100 Composite Index. For more information, please refer to www.emergis.com.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of BCE Emergis with respect to its performance, business and future events. Such statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results and events may vary significantly.