Fox
Systems, a leader in Medicaid and HIPAA, and Cognosante,
a leader in health information interoperability, today
announced that the two companies have merged effective January 1, 2010.
The combined company will be known as Cognosante, LLC, with Fox Systems
operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cognosante.
“The combination of Fox Systems’ proven
experience with state and local government health systems, and
Cognosante’s knowledge of nationwide and state initiatives for health
information exchange is unparalleled”
This merger reflects Cognosante’s and Fox’s combined strategy to expand
interoperability of health systems by providing the critical linkages
among all levels of government – federal, state, and regional – and private
enterprises. Fox Systems was recently recognized by INPUT as a
‘major player in state HIE’. “The combination of Fox Systems’ proven
experience with state and local government health systems, and
Cognosante’s knowledge of nationwide and state initiatives for health
information exchange is unparalleled,” said Michele
Kang, Chief Executive Officer of Cognosante.
Fox Systems, founded by Susan J. Fox more than 20 years ago, is a
recognized leader in providing high-quality technical
and strategic consulting services to healthcare organizations.
It has long been a trusted advisor to State Medicaid agencies providing
requirements analysis, design and development strategies, and
independent verification and validation services for their Medicaid
Management Information Systems (MMIS). Fox Systems is the primary
architect behind the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicaid
Information Technology Architecture (MITA) and operates CMS’s
National Provider Identifier (NPI) Enumerator program through its call
center. Privacy and security are another core competency of Fox Systems,
based on its experience implementing the Health
Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements
and conducting training for payers and providers.
Cognosante, founded by Michele Kang, the former head of Northrop
Grumman’s Health Solutions, is a leader in electronic
health information interoperability, having created and managed
some of the nation’s largest and most complex of electronic heath
information management systems. Cognosante helps providers and
physicians become "meaningful users” of electronic health records, as
well as working to develop state and national architectures, standards,
and governance for health information exchanges. It is currently
supporting the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information
Technology (ONC) with its Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN)
and FHA CONNECT initiatives. At the state and local level, Cognosante
has been involved in several major statewide health information exchange
initiatives.
“At this transformational time in the history of U.S. healthcare, the
combined strengths of the two companies will provide our clients with
unique insights and capabilities to synthesize and integrate the visions
and funding streams of numerous national and state-based initiatives,
including MITA, MMIS, and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act,”
said Susan
Fox, Chair of the Board of Fox Systems.
With experience throughout the Department of Health and Human Services,
within the Department of Defense Health Affairs and the Veterans Health
Administration, in more than 40 state Medicaid agencies, and with
numerous regional and state health information organizations,
Cognosante, LLC, is well positioned to help break the traditional silos
between healthcare providers and thereby promote full system and data
interoperability across public and private sector organizations within
and across states.
Susan Fox and Michele Kang will co-chair the Board of Cognosante.
Michele Kang is named Chief Executive Offer and Susan Fox is President
of the combined company.