Healthcare Providers Sign Up for New IVANS Real-Time Medicare Eligibility Transactions.

OLD GREENWICH, Conn. -- IVANS Inc., the leading provider of healthcare technology solutions, announced today that more than 50 providers and clearinghouses have signed up for connectivity via IVANS to perform Medicare eligibility transactions (270/271) in real-time. Previously, most Medicare Part B providers needed to check patient eligibility by placing a telephone call - an inefficient and costly process compared to performing this electronically. Part A providers, on the other hand, have been using older technology via Direct Data Entry (DDE) to obtain eligibility information. By delivering these important transactions in real-time, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is able to improve the level of service it offers healthcare providers. This should significantly reduce its call center expenses and thereby some of the burden on U.S. taxpayers.

As a result of recent changes in the CMS database and technology infrastructure, IVANS now offers HIPAA-compliant 270/271 eligibility transactions in real-time to both Medicare Part A and Part B providers via secure dial-up or leased line connections. "Real-time transactions through IVANS not only saves providers time, but also results in dramatic cost savings and increased efficiency," states Clare DeNicola, IVANS President and CEO.

Since many healthcare providers may not be able to generate a HIPAA-compliant 270/271 electronic transaction on their own, IVANS Medicare Access Solution, affordable and easy-to-use software, is available to help providers do this for them. "Real-time transactions represent a major evolution in the industry, yet few healthcare providers know that this capability exists for them," states DeNicola. "As more providers learn about this, we anticipate a dramatic increase in providers migrating to these real-time transactions."

For more information on real-time Medicare eligibility transactions, go to www.ivans.com/realtime.

About IVANS

IVANS, Inc. provides the insurance and healthcare industries with fully managed network, EDI and agency-company interface solutions that provide seamless integration over public or private infrastructures. Headquartered in Old Greenwich, Conn., IVANS serves more than 475 insurance and healthcare organizations, more than 30,000 independent agents and 28,000 providers. IVANS, which was formed in 1983 by 21 insurance companies, also has offices in Tampa, Fla., and Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, please visit www.ivans.com.