Per-Se Technologies, NEChealth Launch Easy340b(TM) Prescription Fulfillment Solution for Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospitals.

Easy340b Aims to Increase Prescription Access to More Low-Income Patients

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- Per-Se Technologies (Nasdaq: PSTI), the Connective Healthcare leader, and NEChealth, a leader in pharmaceutical benefits management for state- and community-based programs, have announced a new service to help Medicare disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) extend the value and administration of the federal 340b prescription drug programs, and reach more low-income patients. The service, called Easy340b[TM], is a pharmacy prescription fulfillment solution that DSHs will use to manage prescription drug delivery and prescription information while adhering to federal program guidelines.

"Easy340b is the first comprehensive solution targeting the 340b community. This new solution advances efforts for federally covered entities to help thousands more patients gain access to prescription medication," said Edward Gilmartin, executive vice president of NEChealth.

DSHs represent facilities that treat a large share of low-income patients. Other key beneficiaries of the 340b initiative are federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), city, county and state governments, and managed care organizations that provide healthcare to Medicaid populations.

The federal 340b Drug Pricing Program provides access to reduced price prescription drugs to more than 12,000 healthcare facilities certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as "covered entities."

Any DSH, dispensing pharmacy or other covered entity that administers a 340b program may face resource challenges and compliance risks managing the program. Easy340b offers a complete solution to help these health facilities develop contract pharmacies, provide real-time eligibility, audit compliance and reporting to alleviate administrative challenges and mitigate risk.

"Working with NEChealth, Per-Se will simplify the process for federally qualified pharmacies, hospitals, and integrated delivery networks to fill and dispense discounted drugs for eligible patients," said Scott MacKenzie, president, Per-Se's Pharmacy Solutions division.

"By using our leading pharmacy information technology, we expect more qualified healthcare centers will be able to expand and efficiently operate their own 340b-contracted pharmacies," added MacKenzie.

The Easy340b pharmacy solution:

* Helps identify eligible patients

* Delivers connectivity to the non-profit community

* Mitigates compliance risks

* Addresses operational and logistical challenges of the complex 340b program

* Simplifies and streamlines the administration of the program

* Leverages collaborative partnerships

* Provides a leading ASP pharmacy information management solution

As part of the Easy340b service, Per-Se will make available its Intelligent Network for healthcare transaction processing and its Web-based pharmacy management solution initially to 1,400 federally covered DSH entities. Per-Se also will offer value-added consulting and marketing expertise to further leverage NEChealth's pharmacy benefits management knowledge and experience for this market.

Easy340b pharmacy prescription fulfillment solution offers a fully integrated system to assist covered entities, such as DSH and FQHC facilities, expand their pharmacy network and support community health and outreach programs. One of the greatest impacts of Easy340b will be its effect on at-risk programs that have the potential to further their cost savings on pharmacy services from the partnerships formed with these covered entities, which serve more than 10 million people in all 50 states.

About Connective Healthcare Solutions for Pharmacies

Per-Se's Connective Healthcare solutions allow pharmacies to better manage the medication delivery process. Per-Se delivers point-of-service pharmacy management systems, intelligent network and decision support services that add value and efficiency to pharmacy businesses. With connections to approximately 90% of the pharmacies in the United States, Per-Se's solutions provide pharmacies of all sizes with customized solutions focused on increasing revenue, profit margins and cash flow.

About Per-Se Technologies

Per-Se Technologies (Nasdaq: PSTI) is the leader in Connective Healthcare. Connective Healthcare solutions from Per-Se help enable physicians, pharmacies, hospitals and healthcare organizations to achieve their income potential by creating an environment that streamlines and simplifies the complex administrative burden of providing healthcare. Per-Se's Connective Healthcare solutions help reduce administrative expenses, increase revenue and accelerate the movement of funds to benefit providers, payers and patients. More information is available at www.per-se.com.

About NEChealth

National Extended Care Networks (NEChealth) is the definitive leader in pharmaceutical benefits management for community government health programs. Formed in 1997, NEChealth provides a total and comprehensive pharmacy benefits management program specifically tailored to service patients of public health programs such as: safety-net clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), state and community-based health centers with pharmacy programs other than Medicaid, prison inmate programs, community mental health centers, and private and non-profit organizations providing health care funded by federal, state, and community governments. More information is available at www.nechealth.com