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.

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 Officer  and Susan Fox is President of the combined company.


About Cognosante
Cognosante is all about health—cognos from the Latin cognosco meaning “to know” and santé meaning “health” in French. Our mission is to deliver high-quality health information solutions, both strategic and operational, for public and private health organizations by providing services and technology, skilled business and technical professionals, and proven solutions and methodologies to address today's growing high cost of health care and resource limitations through information sharing. Our vision is to unsilo information to deliver solutions that enhance the quality, improve the efficiency, and reduce the administrative cost of healthcare.
 

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