Press Releases
HEALINX FORMS AGREEMENT WITH MEDEPASS
TO REINFORCE SECURE ONLINE COMMUNICATION;
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ENDORSES HEALINX™ SERVICE
Physicians' Identities Verified by MEDePass
Alameda, CA, July 2, 2001 -- Healinx Corporation, the premier provider of Web-based doctor-patient communication services, today announced a strategic agreement with MEDePass, Inc., a provider of electronic identity authentication services, enabling the secure and trusted transaction of healthcare data via the Internet.
MEDePass, Inc. was created to solve the looming issue of securing physicians' online identities. MEDePassSM Certificates identify authorized physicians online and allow them to participate in Internet initiatives, while providing a high level of reliability to entities, such as health plans or hospitals, for example, using MEDePass to authenticate physicians to their online services. MEDePass is the only such offering in which the physicians themselves maintain possession of and control their digital ID's, because the ID is representative of the holder and is not entity- specific. Healinx will rely on MEDePassSM Certificates as a means of authenticating the identity and medical licensure status of physician users within the HealinxT service, thereby increasing the level of security in electronic doctor-patient communication.
MEDePass and Healinx will cooperate in joint marketing initiatives, with an initial focus on enhancing and coordinating distribution in the California marketplace.
"Now is the perfect time for the healthcare industry to leverage the power of the Internet to deliver quality care," said Jack Lewin, M.D., executive vice president of the California Medical Association and chairman of MEDePass, Inc. "We are pleased to endorse and recommend Healinx to our 34,000 member physicians as a secure and structured means of communicating with their patients over the Internet, as we believe that the accelerated adoption of online services, such as Healinx, will result in improved patient care across the state."
"Our partnership with Healinx is indicative of the direction of online medical communication," said Catherine Roth, chief executive officer of MEDePass. "Both patients and physicians are demanding increased security and confidentiality, and they want proof that their privacy is being protected. Healinx is the ideal partner for us given that the company is committed to structured security and HIPAA compliance."
Healinx's adoption of MEDePass Authentication Services demonstrates the company's ongoing support and compliance with federal regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which requires that patient-identifiable information be securely stored and transmitted online.
"We want our users to feel confident that their communications are completely confidential and secure," said Giovanni Colella, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Healinx Corporation. "MEDePass strengthens the Healinx™ service by eliminating security concerns that plague other types of online healthcare transmissions."
Healinx has been at the forefront of the e-healthcare movement since its announcement last year of a partnership with Blue Shield of California, making Blue Shield the first health plan in the nation to provide an online communication link between doctors and their patients. Since that time, the company has launched several initiatives to study the impact of the Healinx™ service on the doctor-patient relationship, including one with Blue Shield of California, conducted by professors at the University of California, Berkeley, and another with ConnectiCare, Inc., a Connecticut-based health plan. With maximum privacy and security, these organizations are using the Healinx™ service to deliver the efficient, effective online care that consumers are seeking.
About MEDePass
MEDePass, Inc. is a trusted 3rd party in healthcare issuing authenticated digital identities,
expressed as digital certificates, to licensed healthcare professionals in conjunction with
state medical associations. MEDePass, Inc. markets its MEDePass certificates to trading partners
such as health plans, hospitals, and other health care organizations that rely upon them
to authenticate and verify the identities of healthcare professionals on the Internet. MEDePass,
Inc. is based in San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit www.medepass.com.
About the California Medical Association
Dedicated to the health of all Californians, the California Medical Association (CMA) is an
advocacy organization that represents more than 34,000 California physicians from all regions,
modes of practice and medical specialties. For more information, visit www.cmanet.org.
About Healinx
Healinx Corporation is the premier provider of Web-based, doctor-patient communication services.
The Healinx system enables secure, clinically structured, and auditable communications between
doctors and patients. Healinx earned this position by using state-of-the-art technology,
strategic relationships, and a unique understanding of the needs of doctors and consumers.
Healinx helps doctors address their need to recoup income while providing efficient, secure
online services to their patients. At the same time, Healinx offers patients convenience
and access -- the convenience of communicating directly with their physicians at anytime
from anyplace. By streamlining the doctor-patient relationship, Healinx enables payers to
improve member satisfaction and retention and reduce their exposure to rising healthcare
costs. For information, visit www.relayhealth.com.
