Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of North Carolina Selects ImageMatrix; Product Suite To Boost Customer Satisfaction To A Higher Level.

DENVER, Colo.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 3, 1997--

Open Architecture To Integrate All Forms Of Information From EDI To Paper - Customer Service Is Now Measurable for Further Differentiation In The Managed Care Services Market

ImageMatrix announced today that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Durham, NC), has selected their product suite consisting of ServiceMatrix(tm), CaptureMatrix(tm) and ClaimMatrix(tm) to run on 500 seats, to streamline business operations and reporting, and to improve customer service.

Kenneth Otis, CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, stated, "Price and access to care in this business are highly competitive. However, we see superior customer service as a clear opportunity for continued differentiation. Responding to our members' questions should not be adversely impacted because their claim information is received in multiple paper and electronic formats. Our focus will continue to be member satisfaction and we will eliminate barriers to that objective."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has over 1.6 million members and receives about six million paper claims annually. Currently they scan and microfilm these documents for storage. Timely management of this incoming inventory on a first in-first out basis is critical. James C. Pease, Vice President, Benefits Administration for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, states, "We did not want to build a system from scratch. We were looking for a packaged solution based on open technology standards. We found the answer to our needs in the ImageMatrix product suite."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina wanted a company that knew the healthcare industry. They also wanted to make sure that any solution they selected was consistent with their direction of implementing only open technology solutions. After considering a number of vendors, ImageMatrix was the only vendor able to meet all of the above requirements. Pease continues, "Our information technology staff determined very quickly that ImageMatrix had a vision and a solid command of technologies key to our future. We did not get the same impression when meeting with other vendors."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina expects the system to provide much tighter control over incoming claims inventory and processing, and increase the productivity of the staff, which helps reduce costs - all of which falls under the umbrella of better customer service and improved customer satisfaction. Eventually, Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans to extend the ImageMatrix solution into other areas of their business.

"In the insurance and healthcare business, you're basically selling a promise, either a promise to pay or a promise to deliver services," states Pease. "A good company follows through, and we expect these tools to allow us to deliver on these promises in an even timelier manner."

Based on Microsoft Windows NT(r) and Microsoft Windows 95(r) at the desktop, ImageMatrix products take advantage of Microsoft's(r) powerful 32-bit user interface, which makes the products easy to learn and understand. It can be used as a stand-alone IMC software package, or it can be integrated with ImageMatrix's ClaimMatrix and CaptureMatrix software products to form a complete claims administration and customer service solution.

Founded in 1992, Denver-based ImageMatrix is dedicated to improving the productivity and information management capabilities of HMOs, health insurance providers, dental insurance providers and other types of MCOs by providing turnkey customer service and claims processing solutions. The Company's computer-based imaging systems, including ClaimMatrix, ServiceMatrix and CaptureMatrix, use state-of-the-art technology platforms such as a Microsoft Windows NT (NASDAQ/NM: MSFT) network operating platform, an Oracle (NASDAQ/NM: ORCL) or Microsoft SQLServer (NASDQA/NM:MSFT) relational database, and a FileNet (NASDAQ/NM: FILE) imaging workflow engine. In addition to its Denver headquarters, ImageMatrix has regional offices in Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Minneapolis, MN; Portland, OR; San Antonio, TX; St. Louis, MO; Seattle, WA; Shelton, CT; and Raleigh, NC.

Editor's Note:

Additional product information can be obtained from the ImageMatrix Web Site at the following URL: http://www.image-matrix.com/

CaptureMatrix(tm), ClaimMatrix(tm), ServiceMatrix(tm), and ImageMatrix(tm) are common-law trademarks of ImageMatrix Corporation. All other company and product brand names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby acknowledged.

CONTACT: ImageMatrix Corporation

Susan W. Adams, 303/316-3312

or

Health Wave

C. Brian Grimm, 910/686-0870