ENS, A SUBSIDIARY OF NWH, SIGNS NATIONAL CONNECTIVITY AGREEMENT
WITH AETNA
ENS will establish direct connection with Aetna to process electronic
healthcare transactions
New York, NY - April 1, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) - Electronic
Network Systems, Inc. (ENS, a subsidiary of NWH, Inc. (NASDAQ: NWIR)),
a leading provider of physician healthcare transaction processing
services that delivers compliance with the full breadth of HIPAA-defined
transaction sets, announced today an agreement with Aetna to provide
physicians participating in Aetna's network the capability to submit
and track medical and hospital claims electronically, as well as
to verify eligibility and receive electronic remittance advice (ERA),
referrals and authorizations.
ENS is pleased to announce that direct electronic claims submission
became available nationwide through Aetna's network in March of
this year and all other transactions will be available during the
second quarter of this year.
ENS utilizes Xpedite™, proprietary technology with sophisticated
sales, marketing, and tracking capabilities, for working with Aetna
and other health plans to help identify and convert physician practices
nationwide from paper-based to electronic transactions. This proven
approach has enabled ENS to introduce successfully another option
to physician practices, large and small, and convert them to a more
efficient way to handle administrative functions. As physicians
convert to electronic claims submission, ENS continues to support
the health plan and its participating provider base to offer additional
HIPAA-compliant electronic transactions such as claims status, eligibility
verification, ERA, referrals and authorizations.
"Aetna is committed to easing administration for physicians. One
way we can achieve this is by offering physicians multiple venues
for transacting business with us electronically," said Allen Karp,
Aetna's head of network contracting and strategy. "We are pleased
to offer ENS' electronic connectivity services as another option
to the thousands of physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers
who participate in our network."
Aetna's network includes more than 552,000 health care providers.
With the addition of Aetna, ENS now serves virtually all national
health plans. CEO and President of NWH, Inc., and ENS Chairman Terrence
Cassidy, stated: "This relationship with Aetna rounds out ENS' nationwide
roster of health plans and payers we serve and clearly positions
ENS as a leader in establishing provider connectivity."
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading providers of health care,
dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care products,
serving approximately 13.7 million medical members, 11.8 million
dental members and 11.7 million group insurance customers, as of
December 31, 2002. The company has expansive nationwide networks
of more than 552,000 health care services providers, including over
332,000 primary care and specialist physicians and 3,373 hospitals.
For more information about Aetna, please visit the company's website
at www.aetna.com.
About NWH, Inc. and ENS
NWIR is a holding and strategic resource company concentrating
its resources on the acquisition, finance, development and management
of telecom, healthcare services, technology and media businesses.
Its principal operating subsidiary, Electronic Network Systems (ENS)
(www.enshhealth.com) provides
Internet and e-commerce connectivity among health care providers
such as physicians, hospitals, clinics, practice management software
vendors and third party commercial payers.
ENS is currently processing transactions annually from more than
200,000 providers. ENS provides services to healthcare providers
and payers that eliminate paper and labor-intensive process in the
administration of healthcare delivery. ENS product, Health-e Network®,
a full cycle suite of products and services, increases productivity
by automating and streamlining workflow between providers and health
care payer organizations.
Contacts:
Electronic Network Systems (ENS)
Dean Politi Senior
VP Payer Services
800.341.6141 ext. 1327
dpoliti@enshealth.com
Karin Rush-Monroe
(Aetna) Business Communications
215.775.2132
rushmonroek@aetna.com
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