The SSI Group, Inc. and CompCare Group, Inc. Sign Strategic Partnering Agreement for Occupational Health & Workers' Compensation Solutions

Business Wire, June 15, 2001

Business Editors

MOBILE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 15, 2001

The SSI Group, Inc., one of the nation's largest healthcare claims clearinghouse and claims management technology firms, has signed an exclusive Strategic Partnering Agreement with CompCare Group Inc. of Walnut Creek, Calif.

Under the Agreement, CCG will exclusively provide ASP services to SSI's Hospitals, Employers, and Payer customers specifically offering SSI's ClickON(tm) CARE Product as a secure, web enabled information system. In addition, SSI will enhance its service offering to its customer base by utilizing CCG's complimentary, turn-key products and services.

"We are quite pleased to be partnering with CompCare Group. This partnership will assist us in expanding our product offering and market position within both the Healthcare & Workers' Compensation industries. We have been active in the managed care field since 1996 and feel our suite of products links all parties involved in the management of the healthcare recipient. We can track healthcare at any stage of treatment," said Bobby Smith, SSI's CEO and President.

In addition, CompCare Group will enhance it's turn-key information and management solutions by offering its Hospital, Health System and physician group customers the opportunity to obtain seamless, electronic submission for both workers' comp and group health claims through it's relationship with SSI.

"We are listening carefully to our customers and are responding to their needs. By partnering with SSI, we can expand our total service offering to our customers and continue to significantly differentiate CompCare Group in this niche market. The reality is that between the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) and managed care reform, our customers are under tremendous pressure to meet their strategic and financial objectives. These monumental challenges have motivated Providers to aggressively search for higher reimbursing revenue streams. Worker's Compensation injuries/patient lives offer mandated, fee-for service reimbursement to a Hospital and/or Physician Provider. CompCare Group presents Hospitals and Physicians with a total outsource solution to assist them in capturing and growing their Workers' Compensation market share, a specialty patient and revenue source that most Hospital and Physician Providers thought they captured by default. We have proprietary systems, processes and web-enabled products that allow us to 'jump start' and then manage this specialty business for our hospital and physician customers, so they can focus on their core, acute care competencies. Our partnership with SSI Group provides us with an additional distribution channel into SSI's existing large customer base of approximately 1,100 hospitals. Further, this partnership also expands our total service offering and solidifies are distinctive market position as the premier integrator of information and services to the Providers of Occupational Health & Workers' Compensation," said CompCare Group President and CEO, Marylynne Saccaro.