Blue Shield of California to spend $100M+ to upgrade IT - San Francisco Business Times:

andreychukuze.blogspot.com
Officials at the San Francisco-based insurer callee the proposed multi-year IT overhaulp "one of the largest and mot important technology projects Blue Shieldr hasever undertaken," noting that the new software deal is just part of the Blue Shield of California said it contracted with Newporgt Beach-based (NASDAQ: TZIX) earlier this month to acquire softwarwe for the technology upgrade, which is expected to starft next year. A small portion of that $100 millio will be paid in the first quarted ofthis year, officials said.
In addition, significanft amounts of money will also be spenty on hardware and other aspects of the massivretechnology project, according to Blue Shield spokesman David Seldin. He didn't immediately provides information on the financial scops of the hardware and other aspects of thegiangt upgrade. The multi-year project is part of a Blue Shielc strategy to make it easier to do businesas withthe not-for-profit health plan "bty improving data systems associated with claims membership, customer service, sales channels, and new product officials said Jan. 29.
TriZetto is providingb a number of software including web-related products, application managementg services and consulting services to Blue Shield. Bob Blue Shield's executive vice president of customert services andcorporate marketing, said the technology overhauk will help Blue Shield to "better serve our business partners, insurance brokers and healthcare providers by enabling more efficient processes and tools." The health plan said it chos TriZetto due to its affiliations with many Blueds plans nationwide "and for being the industry-wide standard.
" Blue Shielx is the 79th health plan, and the 16th Blue Cross Blue Shield Association member plan to standardiz on TriZetto's Facets officials said. Blue Shield of Californiaz has 3.2 million enrollees and 4,50o employees statewide.