Kern Health Systems Turns to Cognizant for IT Modernization and Operational Improvements to Support Rapid Medicaid Member Growth

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Jul 20, 2016, 06:00 ET

TEANECK, N.J., July 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) today announced that Kern Health Systems (KHS), a managed care health plan serving more than 220,000 members in California, has modernized and transformed its technology infrastructure and operations using Cognizant's deep healthcare and technology consulting expertise, coupled with its market-leading TriZetto software.

In modernizing its operations, KHS implemented the end-to-end capabilities of Cognizant's TriZetto QNXT Enterprise Core Administration Platform. The new platform enables KHS to effectively manage more members, meet changing Medicaid requirements and improve patient and provider experiences. The TriZetto QNXT platform is one of the most widely deployed software platforms supporting Medicaid Managed Care Organizations in the U.S.

KHS's new infrastructure will streamline processes and reduce costs associated with the onboarding of new members. In its first week of deployment, the Cognizant platform increased KHS's claims auto-adjudication rates by 20 percent compared to the company's legacy system. Cognizant also enabled KHS to achieve higher operational efficiency through the development and implementation of a new solution to expedite the digitizing of paper-based records, enabling more efficient data exchange and record access.

"In today's evolving healthcare landscape, it is crucial to have solutions in place that can drive efficiencies and adapt to meet new and future regulations and technological disruptions," said Richard Pruitt, CIO, Kern Health Systems. "By combining Cognizant's consulting expertise and its TriZetto software, we will be able to address our rapid business growth with immediate, tangible results."

"Modern IT infrastructure and digital technologies are the new foundation for healthcare organizations looking to remain competitive in an ever-changing environment," said Krish Venkat, President, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Cognizant. "By working closely with KHS, we have implemented a scalable, next generation IT infrastructure that is designed to increase productivity, reduce operational costs and ultimately provide a better experience for everyone in the healthcare value chain."

About Kern Health Systems
Kern Health Systems (KHS) is a managed care health plan based in Bakersfield, California, that offers care to MediCal and Healthy Families Program recipients throughout Kern County. KHS has built a network of over 500 health care providers including traditional and safety-net providers, private practice doctors, pharmacies, vision providers, and hospitals that manages the health care of 1 out of every 7 Kern County residents.

About Cognizant's Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice
Cognizant's Healthcare and Life Sciences practice, which includes the TriZetto software portfolio, is committed to helping change millions of lives for the better by partnering with clients to build solutions to healthcare challenges, continually improve the way they do business, set the pace in clinical development, strengthen their regulatory infrastructure, and increase competitiveness. With approximately $3.5 billion in annualized revenue, Cognizant's healthcare practice is ranked number three on the Healthcare Informatics Top 100. Cognizant serves 28 of the top 30 global pharmaceutical companies, 16 of the top 20 health plans in the U.S., 3 of the top 5 pharmacy benefit management companies in the U.S., 9 of the top 10 biotech companies, and 12 of the top 15 medical device companies. With a large team of dedicated professionals including doctors, pharmacologists, physicians, biomedical engineers, pharmacists, biostatisticians, medical writers, and GxP consultants, the practice provides domain-aligned consulting, IT, business process, software and as-a-service solutions globally.

About Cognizant
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process services, dedicated to helping the world's leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant combines a passion for client satisfaction, technology innovation, deep industry and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 100 development and delivery centers worldwide and approximately 233,000 employees as of March 31, 2016, Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 2000, and the Fortune 500 and is ranked among the top performing and fastest growing companies in the world. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com or follow us on Twitter: Cognizant.

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