UHC Ingenix acquires Axolotl

More consolidation in the market crossing several industries.
Will Aetna/Activehealth buy Medicity, InterSystems etc? SV

Eden Prairie, Minn. and San Jose, Calif., August 16, 2010 - Ingenix, a leading health information technology and services company, today announced it is acquiring Axolotl, a leading provider of health information exchange (HIE) services. The combined company will enable health information to be shared effectively and securely for the benefit of patients and health care professionals. The Axolotl management team will remain in place and will lead Ingenix's efforts in health care community connectivity.

HIEs are a critical component of realizing the promise of health care modernization and reform. Currently, exchanging health records, data and information is often paper-based and lags behind the 21st century technologies routinely used in other industries. HIEs allow health information and clinical expertise to be shared as directed by patients in a secure environment among physicians, hospitals, labs and radiology centers at the local, regional and state level. HIEs also enhance clinical decision-making to enable more effective and efficient care for patients.

"HIEs are bringing us closer to the point where all the health care professionals patients select to oversee their care can connect to share information and optimize outcomes," said Andy Slavitt, chief executive officer of Ingenix. "We will work with Axolotl to continue to meet the needs of multiple HIE stakeholders and to expand its technologies that serve health care communities."

Ingenix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, founded in 1996 to develop, acquire and integrate the world’s best-in-class health care information technology capabilities