New Company Offers Low Cost Electronic Solutions for Dentists.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

NOTE TO MEDIA: Multimedia assets available

OKEMOS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2002

Renaissance Systems & Services, LLC (RSS) Fills Need in Marketplace

to Cut Dental Administrative Costs

Delta Dental Plan of Michigan launched a separate company to provide electronic commerce solutions to dental offices. Renaissance Systems & Services, LLC (RSS) will initially offer four free or low-cost products that will help dentists and, ultimately, insurance companies reduce the cost of doing business.

The company was formed to meet marketplace demands for affordable electronic commerce solutions in the dental industry.

"Our products and services can help dentists save time and money in most of their administrative tasks from checking eligibility to claims processing," said RSS President Erick Paul. "RSS offers a low-cost integrated dental office management system that incorporates electronic solutions. Our product line offers flexibility, ease of use and most importantly, access to electronic claims submission even for dental offices without an Internet connection."

He added that RSS products are available to any dental office in the U.S. There are an estimated 150,000 practicing dentists in the nation, and within a few months RSS will be able to accept claims for any participating payor (insurance company) nationwide.

Market research shows that 80 percent of dental offices are automated but most do not use electronic claims submission. One reason: cost. Currently most electronic claims submissions are made through practice management software or clearinghouses which charge an average of 37 cents per submission. By using RSS products, dentists will pay nothing or a much lower cost and they will have access to a wide array of electronic benefit transactions including eligibility inquiries and direct deposit.

RSS is initially offering the following four products:

-- DOT (Dental Office Toolkit): An Internet-based program that allows any dentist to submit claims to any participating payor in the country. The product will be rolled out initially in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana before a nationwide launch in the beginning of 2003. Dentists who participate with many Delta Dental Plans who use DOT will have the advantage of also being able to check eligibility, submit predeterminations and sign up for direct deposit. DOT is a free product.

-- DOT Remote (Dental Office Toolkit Remote): A router that eliminates the need for a clearinghouse to transmit claims. This is desktop software downloaded to the office computer that converts claims from any practice management system for submission to any participating payor. DOT Remote is a free product.

-- DAISY: A practice management system that is offered at a competitive price that will allow dentists to conduct all electronic dental benefit transmissions free of charge. RSS will offer this in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. The product was developed by Oregon Dental Service and has a long and successful track record.

-- R-Fax (Renaissance Fax): A service that allows dental offices who don't have Internet access to fax claims to RSS which transmits them electronically to participating payors. There is a cost per claim.

Paul says one-on-one service and support are key to the company's mission, "Our representatives will help clients choose products to fit their needs, give step-by-step instructions on set-up and help solve any technical challenges office personnel may face."

Before joining RSS as its president, Erick Paul was chief marketing officer for American CareSource. He was also vice president of managed care for Care At Home Indiana and director of corporate analyst services for Sagamore Health Network, Inc.

RSS, LLC is wholly-owned by Delta Dental Plan of Michigan. For more information about RSS, log on to www.rss-llc.com or call 1-866-712-9584 (toll-free).

Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, with its affiliates in Ohio and Indiana, is the leading group dental benefits provider in the Midwest. This year the tri-state operation will pay out more than $1 billion for dental care for over 4.6 million members. Considered an industry leader in dental benefit design, claims administration and cost management, the company provides coverage for over 4,200 groups.

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