First Data Corporation and iHealth Deliver Global Personal Health Services and Healthcare Debit Card

SAN FRANCISCO, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- First Data Healthcare Services, part of First Data Corp. and Medem Inc. today announced a new personal health service and card that combines the industry-leading iHealth personal health record with all payer health plan eligibility verification and a healthcare debit card. The new service and card delivers anywhere, anytime access to the patient's record, the health plan information and medical savings accounts. Existing services for consumers have offered access to one of these three. However, the new combined service and iHealthCard offers the power and convenience of integrated access to all three.

"Accurate and timely access to clinical, administrative and financial information represents a tremendous challenge and expense for doctors, patients, employers, health plans and others in the healthcare industry," noted Beverly Kennedy, president, First Data Healthcare Services. "First Data and Medem bring these elements of healthcare together in a simple and integrated online service and card."

For employers, TPAs and health plans the new iHealthCard allows them to provide a single card to consumers that help them better manage their care. "The growing interest in Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) accounts combined with the opportunity that personal health records represent in better engaging consumers in their own care makes this integrated service and iHealthCard a logical and important new tool to improve consumer convenience," stated Rob Butler, Vice President of PayFlex, a leading provider of HSA and FSA administration services as well as a participant of the integrated service and iHealthCard.

For physicians, hospitals, clinics and other providers the iHealthCard allows them to distribute a branded personal health card to patients that links to their iHealth Personal Health Record (PHR) and allows for automated eligibility when the patient is seen at their facilities or offices. "The iHealthRecord eliminates the need for the medical clipboard while the iHealthCard eliminates calls from providers to check health plan eligibility," explained Kelly Victory, MD Chief Medical Officer of Whole Health Management, a provider of clinic and wellness services for multiple national employers. "The patients and employers who we serve find the iHealthCard and integrated online PHR and patient-provider communication unique and powerful. The integration of iHealth into the Allscripts TouchWorks EHR that we utilize in our clinics certainly adds to the value." (Allscripts, Nasdaq: MDRX)

The integrated service and iHealthCard are also in sync with the federal government's efforts to improve healthcare quality and efficiency by better utilizing information technology and personal health records (PHRs.) Secretary Leavitt, the AHIC Committee and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) all have PHR initiatives under way including a recent RFP issued by CMS related to PHRs for Medicare beneficiaries. The common theme in these efforts is consumer empowerment, improved efficiency and elimination of the medical clipboard as the primary means for exchanging patient information. The integrated First Data service and iHealthCards implement this vision while empowering the consumers that they serve.

About iHealth Services

iHealth services are provided to consumers via the Internet from a hospital or physician practice web site or other professional source, and include secure personal health records, patient-provider email and automated and customized patient education with clinical content and support from US Medical Societies, government agencies and other national healthcare institutions. The iHealthRecord integrates with other important sources of information including insurance data and physician or hospital electronic medical records to assist patients in keeping their health record current. The consumer controls access to iHealthRecords.

About Medem, Inc.

Medem established the nation's first secure, interactive online personal health record, the iHealthRecord. Based in San Francisco, Medem was incorporated in 1999 and was founded by a group of the nation's leading medical societies, including: the American Academy of Ophthalmology; the American Academy of Pediatrics; the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; the American Medical Association; the American Psychiatric Association; and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. There are currently 48 societies partnering with Medem whose combined membership represents more than two- thirds of physicians practicing in the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.medem.com/ or http://www.ihealthrecord.org/.

About First Data Corp

First Data Healthcare Services offers a multipurpose card that provides access to HSA, HRA and FSA accounts and line of credit, along with eligibility, benefit and claims data, through a powerful point-of-care network. First Data Corp. is a leading provider of electronic commerce and payment solutions for businesses and consumers worldwide. Serving 4.6 million merchant locations, 1,600 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data powers the global economy by making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses around the world to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. The company's portfolio of services and solutions includes credit, debit, private-label, gift and other prepaid card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; money transfer services; money orders; fraud protection and authentication solutions; check guarantee and verification services through TeleCheck; as well as Internet commerce and mobile solutions. Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta together make up one of the world's largest money transfer networks with approximately 274,000 Agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories. The company's STAR Network offers PIN-secured debit acceptance at 1.9 million ATM and retail locations. For more information, visit http://www.firstdata.com/.

About PayFlex

PayFlex (http://www.payflex.com/) is a leading nationwide provider of healthcare spending account administration with nearly 20 years of experience. PayFlex provides a broad range of services to nearly 2,000 employers including many Fortune 500 companies that employ several millions of employees. PayFlex has distinguished itself in the benefit administration market by offering unmatched customer service; exceptionally fast claim turnaround time and a commitment to be easy to work with. PayFlex services include FSA, HRA, HSA, Transit and Dependent Care, along with COBRA. PayFlex is headquartered in Omaha, Neb., with offices in Chicago and now Littleton, Colo. For more information, please call Rob Butler at 630 325 6953.

About Whole Health Management

Whole Health Management is a leading operator of on-site corporate health and wellness centers in the United States. Since 1981, Whole Health has provided integrated urgent, preventive and primary care, occupational health, physical therapy, health risk and disease management, employee assistance counseling, wellness coaching and fitness services. Whole Health clinics offer exceptional savings to industry through increased productivity, reduced employee downtime and pharmacy costs, as well as lower operating costs. Furthermore, these clinics represent an employee benefit, helping increase morale and aid in staff retention. Whole Health clients generally recover their investment within 12 to 24 months.

Whole Health services benefits more than 25 organizations including many large corporations and Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States. Whole Health associates serve more than 300,000 employees, and in some cases, their spouses and dependents, at nearly 70 on-site health and fitness centers. For more information about Whole Health Management's services, go to http://www.wholehealthnet.com/.

About Allscripts:

Allscripts is the leading provider of clinical software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare. The Company's business groups provide unique solutions that inform, connect and transform healthcare. The Clinical Solutions Group's award-winning software applications include electronic health record, practice management, e-prescribing, document imaging, emergency department and care management solutions. Additionally, Allscripts provides clinical product education and connectivity solutions for physicians and patients through its Physicians Interactive(TM) Group and medication fulfillment services through its Medication Services Group. To learn more, visit Allscripts on the Web at http://www.allscripts.com/.