PITTSBURGH and SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Highmark Inc., one of the largest health insurers in the United States, and Avolent, the leading provider of enterprise electronic billing and settlement software, report record growth in eBilling adoption by Highmark customers. In 2006, the payments made electronically by Highmark customers grew twelve-fold. With the current number of invoices transmitted electronically increasing to more than 48,000, Highmark expects to realize more than $7.5 billion worth of payments from eBilled customers in 2007. Highmark implemented the Avolent eBilling solution to create a single environment for its and its subsidiary customers to view their invoices and make payments with a virtual consolidated bill, and thereby improve customer satisfaction. Customers are notified via email when invoices are available, go to the secure Highmark e-Bill website, and view their invoice and billing reports whenever it is convenient for them.

"We've experienced tremendous growth in the adoption of our e-Bill product because our customers recognize the amount of time that the eBilling process can save them," said Al Dodson, Highmark product manager, e-Billing. Dodson explains that Highmark utilizes eBilling adoption "best practices" that have helped to significantly increase customer acceptance. "We have a website where our customers can review sample bills and the many features of eBilling," said Dodson. "We wanted to give our customers who may be a little timid about adopting new technology an option to "test-drive" the site before they sign up, and provide them with the opportunity to see first-hand the significant advantages associated with electronic presentation."

Overall customer feedback has been very positive. According to Dodson, "Our customers really like the convenience of viewing their invoices electronically and are particularly impressed by the ease with which they can drill into any level of detail they desire. Because of the time-saving features and user-friendly navigation tools offered on the secure website, customers realize it's as easy and protected as banking online. We're confident that if our customers test drive e-Bill, they'll quickly conclude that it's the safe, intuitive and productive answer for managing their Highmark accounts." Dodson's assumption is confirmed by a comment from one Fortune 500 group benefits administrator who stated, "I know you are 'high-fiving' over there. I can imagine that I was one of your tougher sales, but you're right -- the e-Bill system does sell itself."

Adoption rate is fueled by the value customers derive from the electronic billing and settlement processes. For customers like Highmark, and their eBilled customers, ease of use and efficiency are key. But beyond that, the Avolent eBilling solution provides the ability to 'mine' further business value from information the eBill provides. Unlike static bills that are simply pictures of a customer's invoice, Avolent delivers billing and settlement information as 'live data' so customers receive detailed reports and spreadsheets of their billing data, and are therefore able to analyze where their healthcare dollars are spent. This business intelligence positions Highmark's customers to better manage their own businesses, providing them added utility and a higher level of satisfaction.

"Highmark's increase in adoption represents another link in a rapidly growing chain of success stories for Avolent's customers," said Brian Valente, Senior Vice President of Marketing, and executive sponsor for Avolent's healthcare and insurance practice. "We combine high-value functionality designed especially for healthcare payers, such as Avolent's eRoster process, with the cumulative knowledge we glean from the best practices of all our customers, and it's no surprise that success is rapidly duplicated across our customer base."

About Highmark

As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc.'s mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives.

Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.6 million people through the company's health care benefits business. Highmark contributes millions of dollars to keep quality health care programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people's health. The company provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health. You can learn more about Highmark at http://www.highmark.com/.

Highmark Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

About Avolent

Avolent is the leading application software provider for Self-Service eBilling and eSettlement for organizations that are implementing an eBusiness operating strategy. By leveraging Avolent software, organizations can improve "customer intimacy" and customer satisfaction, reduce operating costs, increase revenues, accelerate cash flow, and enhance compliance all while preserving our environment. Three of the top five eBusiness companies in the world utilize Avolent software. Today, over one thousand electronic bills are delivered every minute using the Avolent solution. Avolent customers include Penske, Office Depot, Do It Best, SingTel, Highmark, Xerox, Key Bank and two of the three largest PC suppliers in the world. For more information call (800) 553-5505 or visit http://www.avolent.com/.

CONTACT: Phil Neubauer, Media and Communications Consultant of Highmark
Inc., +1-412-544-4221, phil.neubauer@highmark.com; or Sharon Kawaguchi,
Director of Marketing Programs of Avolent, +1-415-553-6903,
skawaguchi@avolent.com

Web site: http://www.avolent.com/
http://www.highmark.com/