Companion Data Services Awarded Contract to Support Federal Program

Companion Data Services Awarded Contract to Support Federal Program

COLUMBIA, S.C., Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Highmark Medicare Services Inc., a provider of administrative services to the federal Medicare program, has selected Columbia, S.C.-based Companion Data Services (CDS) to provide information technology and support for a national health care reimbursement system.

Under terms of a five-year contract, CDS's state-of-the-art data center will host applications Highmark Medicare Services will use to administer the program, which provides federal reimbursement for emergency health services to undocumented aliens. CDS will perform all necessary services and upgrades to hardware, software and network infrastructure.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently named Highmark Medicare Services, based in Camp Hill, Pa., the prime contractor to administer this federal program. The program, part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, pays eligible hospitals, physicians, and ambulance providers for their otherwise unreimbursed costs of providing emergency medical services to undocumented aliens. 

CDS operates one of the largest and most secure health care data centers in the world from its Columbia, S.C., headquarters, providing innovative health information technology services to both government and private entities.

"We are pleased that Highmark Medicare Services has put its trust in CDS to provide critical services for this important federal program," said Lola Jordan, CDS's chief operating officer.  

About Companion Data Services, LLC

Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., CDS offers data center hosting in a technically progressive environment. Developing relationships and encouraging collaboration ensure achievement of its customers' program objectives. CDS and its parent company operate a large, secure health care insurance data center complex, providing services for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, TRICARE, the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and Medicare Advantage health plans, as well as other private health plans. CDS has offices in Columbia, S.C., Dallas and Baltimore. For more information, visit www.CompanionDataServices.com.