San Francisco, CA
October 23, 2007

AVOLENT, a leading provider of Self-Service Electronic Billing and Settlement software, and First Consulting Group (FCG), a leading provider of technology and consulting services for the healthcare industry, have established a partnership to deliver electronic billing and settlement for healthcare payers through First Portfolio, FCG's a-la-carte software implementation and selection service offering.

The healthcare payer market rules are being reset. Previously, regional payers could not effectively compete with large national payers because they are unable to invest in their own IT staff and operations, like larger payers. Due to a new strategic partnership between FCG and AVOLENT this is no longer the case. This partnership through FirstPortfolio creates a SaaS (Software as a Service) offering that automates the customer connection between the payer and the insured by creating a paperless billing, settlement, and payment relationship. Benefits include: dramatically decreased costs through the paperless offering, a great reduction of errors through real-time verification of the billing and payment transaction per individual covered life, and that correct payment, either partial or full, is applied to the right covered individual. Until now this ability was not available to smaller payers due to the excessive investment required in both dollars and IT capability.

By offering this solution via a web platform healthcare payers are assured of a knowledgeable team for implementation, a short time-to-market, and the lowest possible costs for an electronic billing solution that results in true competitive advantage. In addition, this paperless solution allows both the payer and the customer to do their part in preserving the environment and decreasing the environmental effects surrounding paper waste.

"Customer demand for electronic billing and settlement is increasing significantly and FCG is excited to partner with a best-of-breed partner, AVOLENT, in order to meet customer needs, " said Scot McConkey, President and General Manager of FCG's Health Plan Business Unit. "AVOLENT's proven success and expertise in the healthcare field made it an easy and mutually beneficial choice for us to partner. FirstPortfolio's inventive model, coupled with our ability to now offer a "green solution" helps strengthen all businesses involved, as well as the environment."

"The partnership between AVOLENT and FCG solidifies our leadership position to offer healthcare organizations an ebilling solution that streamlines both cost and time to launch electronic billing and settlement for healthcare organizations," stated Mike Seashols, CEO and Chairman of AVOLENT. "This unique partnership allows both organizations to leverage our industry knowledge to improve internal and customer adoption of electronic billing to create a paperless billing and payment environment--which translates into preserving more of our natural resources."