The following information has been compiled from publicly available Sources, StratCom does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or the authenticity of the information and StratCom cannot be held liable for errors.

Welcome back to the StratCom monthly update, hope you had a healthy and productive summer. The following are highlights of diagnostics related events that took place in July and August 2000.

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Bio-Reference Laboratories Inc. has announced that CareEvolve.com, BRLI's eHealthcare connectivity portal, has already enrolled over 200 members following its release on Aug. 1, 2000. CareEvolve is a B2B physician-centric Web-based solution that provides a full range of physician office services that are based on a secure messaging system that is able to provide communications between physicians, patients, other physicians, vendors and payers. In addition, the system provides the physician with a Web site, an ISP, and a broad base of Web-based services, such as electronic payer enrollment, claims submission, computer purchasing, eligibility verification, Web-based consultations, CME courses, full financial services, office and medical supplies ordering, prescription services and lab reporting.

Cerner Corporation has acquired CITATION Computer Systems, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., for approximately $16 million. The purchase price was financed with approximately $2 million in cash and $14 million in stock. "The CITATION client base complements Cerner's traditional client base that primarily consists of larger hospitals, health systems and independent laboratories," said Neal L. Patterson, Cerner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Healthcare Transaction Standards for Electronic Claims Released by HCFA. The new standard formats for data content and formats for submitting electronic claims and other administrative health transactions have been released by the Health Care Financing Administration. Under the new regulation all electronic claims transactions must follow the single standardized format. Providers will still be allowed to use paper forms, but the simplified process is expected to encourage more electronic filing. By law, health plans and health care providers that choose to transmit their transactions in electronic form must comply with these rules within 26 months from the date of publication of this final rule. The proposed regulation was required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as HIPAA. Health Secretary Donna Shalala cautioned that this rule is being released under the assumption that privacy protections will be in place at approximately the same time the rule takes effect. By the compliance date, HHS expects that its regulation on privacy of medical records will also be in effect, or Congress will have enacted such protections.

LifeChart.com has launched an internet-based Diabetes Service that uses a specialized modem (the Uplink) to transfer a patient's blood glucose data from a blood glucose meter via a phone line to a secure Internet site. Data can be accessed 24 hours a day by patients and designated healthcare providers for time-sensitive and accurate diabetes monitoring and treatment. The service, which has been successfully running in Europe since November 1999, is in its final phase of testing and will be commercially available in the US by early Fall 2000.

Sunquest Information Systems Inc. has introduced Diagnostix.com, a business division focused on leveraging Internet technology to help physicians make more informed diagnostic and treatment decisions for patients. Diagnostix.com plans to develop Web-based products that streamline communication between the many constituents of healthcare -- integrated delivery networks, laboratories, pharmacies, physicians and patients -- with the goal of improving the quality of care, reducing healthcare costs and improving clinical outcomes.

Information Technology and Healthcare - June 2000
Information Technology and Healthcare - May 2000
Information Technology and Healthcare - April 2000
Information Technology and Healthcare - March 2000
Information Technology and Healthcare - Febuary 2000
Information Technology and Healthcare - January 2000
Information Technology and Healthcare - December 1999
Information Technology and Healthcare - November 1999
Information Technology and Healthcare - October 1999
Information Technology and Healthcare - September 1999