MINNEAPOLIS, Oct 18, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Fiserv Health, a business group of Fiserv Inc. (NASDAQ:FISV) has announced the acquisition of Innovative Cost Solutions (ICS), a claim resolution company that negotiates health care claims, specifically from non-network providers.

ICS supports Fiserv Health's strategy of providing a full range of cost management solutions to medical payers and is a strategic fit with ppoONE, a Fiserv Health company specializing in repricing in-network PPO claims. As a new operating company within Fiserv Health Specialty Solutions, ICS will continue to provide services to external customers and other health care payers.

"Adding ICS is another way for us to deliver value through innovative products and services," explained Bryan Troyer, president of Fiserv Health Specialty Solutions. "ICS is an industry leader with a strong brand and superior reputation. We will leverage their expertise to support health plan customers as they look for ways to contain costs."

ICS will continue to operate out of its Chicago headquarters and will retain its name and staff. Mark Hendryx, the founder of ICS, will remain as president of the company. Other details of the transaction were not disclosed.

"Claim resolution is of crucial importance in controlling out-of-network claim costs," said Hendryx. "Our approach of direct negotiations with a signed settlement agreement is, we believe, the only proven method for consistent, sustainable results. Becoming a part of Fiserv Health will give us more opportunity to apply this proven solution to more clients who want to make a significant impact on claim costs."

About Fiserv Health

Fiserv Health provides a full array of integrated health plan management, claims processing and administration services for self-funded medical, dental, vision and disability plans. Fiserv Health also offers health plan management, pharmacy benefits management and business process outsourcing services to self-funded commercial and government employers and health plans.

Fiserv Health Specialty Solutions offers a complementary suite of business products and services to health care payers and PPO organizations. The business unit includes CareGain, a consumer-driven health plan software platform; ppoONE, a claim repricing and data management organization; JW Hutton, a subrogation and overpayment recovery organization; and BP Inc., a managing general underwriter for stop loss products. Find out more at www.fiservhealth.com.

About Fiserv Inc.

Fiserv Inc. (NASDAQ:FISV), a Fortune 500 company, provides information management systems and services to the financial and health benefits industries. Leading services include transaction processing, outsourcing, business process outsourcing, software and systems solutions. The company serves more than 17,000 clients worldwide and is the leading provider of core processing solutions for U.S. banks, credit unions and thrifts. Fiserv was ranked the largest provider of information technology services to the financial services industry worldwide in the 2005 and 2004 FinTech 100 surveys. Headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., Fiserv reported more than $4 billion in total revenue for 2005. For more information, please visit www.fiserv.com.

SOURCE: Fiserv Health

Fiserv Health
Alfred P. Moore, 763-549-3384
or
Susan Ford-Hoffert, 715-841-6613
or
Roepke Public Relations
Jessica Sachariason, 612-677-1717

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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