Healthcare Industrys First Open Business Services Network Crosses $15M Mark

Webifys CTO to Discuss Value of Implementing HIPAA Transactions using open Web Services Standards at AFEHCTs Annual Washington Policy Forum

AUSTIN, TX, (PRWEB) November 18, 2003 - Webify Solutions, the company that pioneered Business Services Networks, announced today that its Healthcare Business Services Network has processed over $15 million in healthcare transactions since its commercialization in July 2003. Developed for Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and its Advanced Health Information Network (AHIN) group, Webifys Business Services Network provides clinics and hospitals with a direct connect, real-time or batch based alternative to clearinghouses while driving down healthcare administration costs for both health plans and providers.

Initial reports from users such as Clopton Clinic in Arkansas suggest that the Webify Business Services Network is saving over 20% in labor costs through the direct connection and is reducing problem claim resolution and payment cycle time from 60-90 days to within 14 days.

"With the rising costs of healthcare, this milestone is a significant step towards the streamlining of healthcare administrative processes and costs through our vision of the real-time transaction in the healthcare industry," said Lang Smith, Vice President and General Manager, Webify Solutions. Equally important, the network is helping reduce manual touch points and solve HIPAA compliance challenges for both Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and its provider community".

The company also announced that Walt Culbertson, its Chief Technology, Privacy and Security Officer, will discuss the business value of implementing HIPAA transactions using open Web services standards at a panel during the Annual Washington Policy Forum for the Association for Electronic Health Care Transactions (AFEHCT). Mr. Culbertson will discuss payer and provider challenges with HIPAA and provide an update on Webifys industry-first implementation of HIPAA transactions encapsulated by advanced Web services standards such as SOAP, WSDL, UDDI, and WSi Basic Profile 1.0 specification. The panel, titled Putting Standards to Work - Added Value Through Innovation", is scheduled for November 20, 2003.

"Industry collaboration is key to accelerating HIPAA implementation and the AFEHCT Annual Conference is an excellent forum for fostering new ideas and relationships," said Mr. Culbertson. "Webify Solutions is privileged to have this opportunity to discuss and present new ideas at this important healthcare community event."

This year's Annual Conference, being held on November 20-21, 2003 at the Capital Hilton in Washington DC, is intended to serve as a catalyst for dialogue around public policy issues facing the healthcare community around HIPAA implementation. For further information, visit AFEHCTs web site: http://www.afehct.org/newsevents/index.htm.

About Webify Solutions
Webify Solutions pioneered the market for Business Services Networks and is a leading provider of software for creating on demand business networks. Webify Solutions software connects systems, processes, and people within and across enterprises, to dramatically reduce costs and generate new revenue streams. Privately held Webify Solutions is based in Austin, TX and Mountain View CA, and is backed by premier technology and financial partners. For details visit http://www.webifysolutions.com or call 1-866-4WEBIFY.

About Association for Electronic Health Care Transactions
AFEHCT is an advocacy group for healthcare vendors involved with EDI, in particular with clearinghouses. It has been very active in the past eight years in assisting Congress, HHS, CMS, and other groups in developing the recent HIPAA regulations. As a key player in Washington, AFEHCT has had a great deal of influence in this area, including the recent ASCA compromise that provided the healthcare industry with a one-year extension. AFEHCT has also researched and developed security best practices for interoperability among healthcare organizations. http://www.afehct.org

About Clopton Clinic, PA
Clopton Clinic, PA is a medical multispecialty group located in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Clopton Clinics physician staff includes specialty providers in the fields of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Pulmonary Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, and Family Practice. Clopton Clinics on-site services include Laboratory, Radiology, Bone Densitometry, Pulmonary Function Testing, Stress Testing, Chemotherapy, and Endoscopy.

About Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield
Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest health insurer in Arkansas, serving more than 898,000 Arkansans. Arkansas Blue Cross and its USAble family of companies have more than 2,300 employees. Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates provide health care financing for approximately 30 percent of Arkansans.
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Press Contact:
Rebecca Jackson
Webify Solutions Media Relations
(512) 305-0730
Rebecca.jackson@webifysolutions.com