CMS Chooses Companion Data Services to Host National Level Repository

COLUMBIA, S.C., June 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has selected Companion Data Services (CDS) to provide data processing and hosting operations for a National Level Repository (NLR) that will track incentive payments to heath care providers that adopt electronic health records and modernize their computer systems.

The NLR system will reside in the data center at CDS' headquarters in Columbia, S.C., and be hosted and operated by CDS staff. Under a separate contract, CDS also will provide application development consultant services to Northrop Grumman Corp., which was selected recently by CMS to design and develop the NLR system.

CDS' contract with CMS for the data processing and hosting services is for one year, with four one-year renewal options. If all options are exercised, the contract value would be approximately $24 million. CDS will host the NLR system on a state-of-the-art zLinux platform, which combines significant mainframe processing power with application design flexibility.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, establishes incentive payments for medical practices and hospitals enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid that invest in health care information technology. A major goal of the legislation is to improve health care through the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs).

"CDS is very excited to support the modernization of our nation's health care system as it transitions to EHRs," said Steve Hammons, CDS' chief operating officer. "This technology is vitally important to improving health care outcomes, reducing medical errors, and lowering health care costs. We look forward to providing additional technical solutions to the federal government that accomplish these goals."

About Companion Data Services

Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., CDS offers data center hosting in a technically progressive environment. Developing relationships and encouraging collaboration ensure achievement of its customers' program objectives. CDS and its parent company operate a large, secure health care insurance data center complex, providing services for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, TRICARE, the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, and Medicare Advantage health plans, as well as other private health plans. CDS has offices in Columbia, S.C., Dallas and Baltimore. For more information, visit www.companiondataservices.com.

SOURCE Companion Data Services