Companion Data Services to Provide Hosting for Pennsylvania-based IT Company

COLUMBIA, S.C., July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Professional Data Solutions (PDS), a Pennsylvania-based information technology firm that provides systems management to corporations, has awarded a contract to Companion Data Services (CDS) of Columbia, S.C., for data center hosting services.

Under terms of the three-year contract, CDS will host applications to support an inter-plan teleprocessing system that PDS manages for major health insurance plans nationwide. The system supports national programs that enable members of one insurance plan to obtain health care service benefits while traveling or living in another plan's service area.

The program links participating health care providers across the United States and abroad with the insurance companies through a single electronic network for claims processing and reimbursement.

"Our relationship with PDS is key for CDS," said Lola Jordan, CDS' chief operating officer. "PDS remains one of the strongest players in the systems management marketplace. The ability to process inter-plan claims is seen as essential in the new Affordable Care Act world. PDS provides these services today and will be a strong company for tomorrow."

CDS operates a secure health care data center at its Columbia, S.C., headquarters that is ranked in the top 1 percent of IBM data centers worldwide, based on computing power. It provides data hosting and other health information technology services to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other government and private entities. In 2010, approximately 800 million Medicare fee-for-service claims, or about 65 percent of the nation's total, were processed through the CDS data center.

About Companion Data Services

CDS (www.CompanionDataServices.com) 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.

About Professional Data Solutions

Headquartered in Blue Bell, Pa., PDS (www.ProfessionalDataSolutions.net) provides systems management services for Fortune 1000 companies. The company was founded in 1986 in support of major health insurance plans nationwide. Its primary focus has been within the finance and claims area of inter-plan business.

SOURCE Companion Data Services