Humana Buys HIE Vendor Certify Data as its Provider Focus Intensifies

Health insurer Humana Inc. has acquired Certify Data Systems, vendor of the HealthLogix health information exchange platform software. Terms were not disclosed.

The buy is part of Humana’s strategy to expand into the provider market; it recently announced it will purchase Florida-based Metropolitan Health Networks, a primary care network of physicians serving more than 87,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Humana in 2010 acquired 300-clinic Concentra Inc. and has since invested in urgent care clinics and a home health vendor, according to Bloomberg News.

Having Certify Data Systems will enable Humana to provide more coordinated care and move it closer to “creating a virtual integrated delivery health care system,” says Brian LeClaire, chief information and service officer for the insurer. The HIE will operate as a subsidiary and continue serving hospitals, physicians and laboratories.

Major insurers who previously bought HIE vendors include Aetna (Medicity) and UnitedHealth Group’s OptumInsight (Axolotl).