NU Online News Service, May 4, 2:33 p.m.EDT

Insurance technology solution provider Ebix has joined withveterinary-hospital information management system CurePet to deploythe first cloud-based Pet Insurance Exchange. 

The Pet Insurance Exchange promises to be a one-stop connectionhub where pet owners can find referrals to small-practice vets,specialists at large animal hospitals and university institutes.For pet care professionals, the exchange will recommend contactsfor business-building resources such as software developers andsuppliers of pet wellness and medical supplies.

It will also offer a network to pet insurance services providersof practice management, electronic medical records, billing,patient portals and more.

"CurePet has an innovative concept of creating a healthinsurance exchange for Pets," says Robin Raina, Ebix boardchairman, president and chief executive officer. "With an estimated20 million pets in the United States, this market is ripe for theefficiency gains that a cloud-based exchange can offer to all theentities involved. CurePet has an opportunity to define the marketand take a leadership position in this niche area, since no othercompany has deployed a solution like this."

CurePet has expertise in providing record tracking services andcommunication between pet owners, veterinary doctors, and specialtyhospitals. It is building cloud-based storage for electronicmedical records.

Ebix, now a CurePet shareholder, will provide informationtechnology services for CurePet on a monthly development-fee basiswhile retaining rights to market and operate the exchangeinternationally.