ACS extends Missouri health care deal

Affiliated Computer Services Inc. will continue to manage Missouri's electronic health records and pharmacy benefits programs under a contract renewal from the state's HealthNet Division. The 10-year award could be worth as much as $57 million if all options are exercised.

ACS will furnish Missouri with several components of its electronic health records solution, including SmartPA, which conducts automated prior authorizations and prospective drug utilization review. Since 2002, SmartPA has helped contribute more than $85 million in annual program savings to the state, ACS said.

The Dallas company also will deploy several Web-based tools that enable patients, physicians and pharmacists to access information to improve health outcomes, facilitate coordination of care between providers, reduce dangerous drug interactions, minimize duplicate therapies and reduce unnecessary costs.

Furthermore, ACS will provide retrospective drug utilization review and federal reporting services using CyberFormance, another component of its suite of EHR Web tools.

The contract renewal extends a relationship with Missouri that began in 2001, ACS said.

ACS ranks No. 58 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.