Emdeon Announces Agreement to Acquire The Sentinel Group, a Leader in Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Managemen...( Proven experience technology and seas...),Health

Proven experience, technology and seasoned investigators to help boost payment integrity and strengthen healthcare information network

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Emdeon, a leader in revenue and payment cycle solutions, announced today the signing of an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of The Sentinel Group from Optimal Business Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Trustmark Mutual Holding Company (Trustmark Companies). The Sentinel Group is a recognized leader in healthcare fraud and abuse management services. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The Sentinel Group combines sophisticated data analytics solutions and technology with a highly experienced team of fraud investigators. During nearly 19 years of conducting investigations, The Sentinel Group and its employees have achieved a strong track record of cost savings for customers.

"We are delighted about this opportunity and the benefits it will bring to our customers," said George Lazenby, Chief Executive Officer of Emdeon. "Billions of dollars are lost every year to healthcare fraud, and that drives up costs for patients, doctors, hospitals, insurers, employers and ultimately U.S. taxpayers."

"Emdeon is the single largest financial and administrative information exchange in the U.S. healthcare system," said Lazenby. "By integrating The Sentinel Group's technology and intelligence into Emdeon's existing workflow, we have the opportunity to generate tremendous savings for both the public and private sectors."

According to the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA), U.S. healthcare spending in 2007 topped $2.26 trillion. The NHCAA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) estimate that 3% to 10% of a
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