Press Release

Manasquan, N.J., USA, April 12, 2005 - Citing ease of use, cost and time savings, and the psychological value to physicians, several large healthcare organizations are now reimbursing for physician-patient e-visits for nonurgent health issues. Understanding the technology supporting this e-health practice and the steps necessary to implement an effective e-visit program are the rudiments of a May 3, 2005 audio conference sponsored by the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN). During this audio conference, representatives from a technology provider, a healthcare provider and an insurer will share lessons learned about creating and launching e-visit programs.

“Physician-Patient Online Communications: Making the Move to e-Visits” audio conference will detail ways health plans are using e-visits to improve efficiency and control costs. The audio conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on May 3, 2005. For more details on attending the audio conference, please visit the HIN bookstore.

“Many physicians are already using e-mail to answer simple questions from patients or renew prescriptions, without being reimbursed,” according to Melanie Matthews, HIN Executive Vice President. “With technology such as secure Web sites and messaging platforms supporting electronic interactions between doctors and patients, there is a logical jump to e-visits, which are less expensive and time-consuming than office visits for nonurgent matters.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, and Group Health, a health plan in New York, are among the healthcare organizations covering these electronic transactions, she said.

Industry experts Eric Zimmerman, Senior Vice President of Marketing, RelayHealth; Dr. Eric M. Liederman, Medical Director for University of California Davis Medical Center; and Tanya Trombly, Director of Provider Support, Blue Cross Shield of Massachusetts, will share their perspectives on this new e-health tool, including:

• Getting payors to adopt reimbursement programs for online interactions;
• Persuading physicians to perform e-visits;
• Implementing an e-visit program;
• Evaluating implementation cost versus financial return;
• Offering incentives for adoption;
• Integrating e-visits into an electronic medical record (EMR); and
• Reviewing relevant case studies.

This audio conference is designed to benefit presidents, CEOs, medical directors, CIOs, CTOs, IT directors, system and network managers, business development and strategic planning directors. For more information on the conference, please email info@hin.com, call toll-free (888) 446-3530 or visit the HIN bookstore.

About the Healthcare Intelligence Network -- HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ, USA, 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073, e-mail info@hin.com, or visit www.hin.com.

###