Pitney Bowes Group 1 Software has announced Companion DataServices (CDS), a provider of information technology services tosupport public health insurance programs administered by theCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has selectedGroup 1's Finalist address quality solution to cleanse addressesand process insurance claims.

CDS is one of three nationwide enterprise data centers thatsupport Medicare claims processing across the U.S. CDS helpsMedicare accommodate a growing claims volume, standardizeoperations, expand electronic services, bolster security, and lowercosts. CDS has a contract with CMS to process approximately 800million claims annually that are submitted by hospitals andphysicians in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.This represents about 65 percent of all Medicare claims in thecountry.

"As the volume of Medicare insurance claims grows, carriers lookfor technologies that make claims processing more efficient, andaddress quality is one area that can make a tremendous differencein cutting costs and securing timely delivery of customercommunications," says Bill Sinn, strategic industry manager,insurance, for Pitney Bowes Group 1 Software. "CDS recognizes thataddress quality plays a key role in improving Medicare'sproductivity, and since its original implementation in 1988,Finalist has provided CDS and its parent company withindustry-leading address accuracy."