Health Connector announces the expansion of existing relationship with Perot Systems

Oct 28 2009

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority (Health Connector) and Perot Systems Corporation (NYSE: PER) (www.perotsystems.com) today announced an expansion of their existing relationship in which Perot Systems will use its Xcelys health plan administration software solution to provide additional premium billing and enrollment services to the state health insurance program.

Perot Systems currently provides a variety of information technology solutions to the Health Connector, including applications hosting, while also providing member contact center services, web services and billing. The addition of the Xcelys software solution, which will also be hosted by Perot Systems, is expected to streamline the enrollment, billing and statement processes, enhancing customer experience, increasing efficiency, and providing a greater flexibility of offerings. The technology upgrade will also provide a foundation for the Health Connector to grow and quickly adapt to program changes. Today's announcement builds upon the relationship that began last year with an information technology and business process agreement between Perot Systems and the Health Connector.

"Customer service is a critical element of healthcare reform," said Health Connector Chief Operating Officer Rosemarie Day. "To be successful, we cannot merely enroll members, but must be there for them when they need us the most."

"In the three short years since Massachusetts first established the Health Connector, it has gone from having the sixth highest percentage of insured residents in the U.S. to being number one, and we are proud to be part of this innovative program," said Chuck Lyles, president of Perot Systems Healthcare. "The Xcelys software solution will enable the Health Connector to more effectively help residents find, retain and pay for healthcare coverage, making the program more efficient both for the state and for the people it serves."

Commonwealth Care is a leading-edge program administered by the Health Connector to help individuals who don't have an employer-sponsored health insurance plan or Medicaid find an insurance plan that fits their individual needs. Today, nearly 200,000 residents receive coverage through the Health Connector, helping Massachusetts achieve the lowest level of uninsured individuals at 2.7%, far below the national average of 15%. By providing historically uninsured and under-insured individuals with access to preventative care and physician relationships, the program cuts down on costly emergency room visits and indigent care services.

In addition to implementing the Xcelys software solution, Perot Systems delivers a variety of IT and business process solutions to the Health Connector, as well as a multi-lingual customer call center that provides enrollees with personal assistance in selecting the insurance plan that best meets their individual needs. Over the summer, Perot Systems began providing web support for the Health Connector's main website and Choice sub-site in addition to the web support the company had already been providing the Care sub-site. The company also hosts and maintains a user-friendly web portal that provides easy access to program information. Xcelys software is expected to enhance the online self- service tools, providing secure, user-friendly access to enrollment information. The addition of Xcelys software to the suite of services will also help the Health Connector process the large volume of enrollees and invoices generated by the program in a more timely and accurate manner.