HIPAA 5010 Ready: DST Health Solutions Launches Upgrades of Amisys Advance, PowerMHS, PowerMHC and PowerSTEPP

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- DST Health Solutions, LLC, today launched new versions of all four of its core claims administration platforms—Amisys Advance, PowerMHC, PowerMHS and PowerSTEPP. The platforms now support Version 5010, as mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This change—from Version 4010/4010A to Version 5010 of the electronic healthcare transaction standard—will be effective Jan. 1, 2012, as designated by CMS.

These upgrades are a significant part of DST Health Solutions' 5-I Compliance Accelerator Program, designed to help health plans successfully prepare major business systems for compliance with upcoming federal regulations. Within two years, CMS will require healthcare organizations to begin using the new 5010 standards for electronic transactions and within three years upgrade from ICD-9 to ICD-10, a new diagnostic and procedure code set. This transition has been called "healthcare's Y2K."

"Medical Card System, Inc. (MCS) has been tracking these regulatory changes for some time now, and it was clear that we required professional advice," said Ivars Blums, chief information officer of MCS, a Puerto Rico-based health plan and DST Health Solutions client. "DST Health Solutions' consultants have enabled my IT staff to analyze and prepare our PowerMHS environment for a successful transition to 5010 and ICD-10. We know that PowerMHS is fully capable of supporting our goal: to turn these regulations into opportunities to move forward and improve administrative efficiency and quality of care."

The majority of DST Health Solutions' clients are participating in its 5-I Compliance Accelerator Program. Participating clients include health plans utilizing all four of the company's core claims platforms. The program includes assessment services, migration support packages, business impact consulting, readiness roadmaps, transaction maps and supplemental resources to support system testing and implementation.

"We are dedicated to helping our clients adapt their business processes and systems for 5010 and ICD-10 in a timely manner," said Steve Sabino, president of DST Health Solutions. "Preparing all four platforms for the 5010 mandate is a significant milestone in our 5-I program and our efforts to help health plans modernize their key business processes and streamline operations."

DST Health Solutions consultants are available to help clients review their approach for 5010 and ICD-10, including planning, analysis, business process improvement, technology adoption, training, impact assessment and remediation. For more information on the 5-I Compliance Accelerator Program, please call 800-272-4799.

About Medical Card System, Inc.

Medical Card System, Inc. (MCS) provides a large variety of corporate and individual health plans. For more than 25 years, MCS has conducted business as a Puerto Rican corporation that is well known for its innovative services. MCS has a wide network of participating providers, consisting of more than 10,000 physicians, pharmacies, dentists, labs and hospitals – therefore ensuring greater access to healthcare services throughout Puerto Rico and the United States.

About DST Health Solutions

DST Health Solutions, LLC delivers systems and services that help improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, increase speed to market, and facilitate medical cost management and price containment. Our clients include commercial health plans, consumer-directed plans, government plans (Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and Medicaid) and physician practices. DST Health Solutions' enterprise applications and outsourcing services include claims processing, member and provider management, benefit plan management, new product development, care management and medical management, and decision support/analytics. DST Health Solutions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DST Systems, Inc. For more information about DST Health Solutions, contact 800.272.4799, email [email protected] or visit www.dsthealthsolutions.com.

The information and comments above may include forward-looking statements respecting DST and its businesses. Such information and comments are based on DST's views as of today, and actual actions or results could differ. There could be a number of factors affecting future actions or results, including those set forth in DST's latest periodic financial report (Form 10-K or 10-Q) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such factors should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking comment. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements in this press release to reflect future events.

SOURCE DST Health Solutions, LLC