March, 2004

In a 'first' for Canadian vision care professionals, the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC), today announces that it has selected Continovation Services Inc. (CSI) to supply electronic claims capability to Canadian opticians through the CSI ITRANS™ system.

About the Opticians Association of Canada

• The OAC is a national group providing advocacy as well as educational and business resource to Canadian Opticians. The OAC offers a national medium through which a legislative voice speaking on behalf of Canadian opticians may be heard. Through its delivery of primary and continuing education programmes, the OAC supports and promotes the highest standard of education and licensing for opticians as well as the delivery by its members to consumers of the finest quality of products and services.

OAC/ CSI ITRANS™ Alliance

• The OAC is excited to work with CSI ITRANST in offering Canadian Opticians the use of CSI's 'one of a kind' technology that is designed to support healthcare providers and all of their electronic transactions" said OAC President Don Smith. The ITRANST mechanism provides for digital transmission and storage of photographs as well as other attachments from practitioner to insurances carriers. This capability allows practitioners to support consumer insurance claims with added significant detail as required. ITRANST also provides the timesaving capability of electronic transfer of information within the circle of care from practitioner to practitioner.
  
• The CSI ITRANS™ solution incorporates the highest level of security for transmission of personal health information that meets or exceeds the highest standards of North American privacy regulations. Opticians wishing to use the system will need to apply through the OAC for a digital certificate that will be used to authenticate them and allow access to the ITRANS™ services.
  
• This initiative with Canadian Opticians is an excellent opportunity to deliver quality customer service to help improve and promote the health of patients, and we are delighted to be working with the innovative team at OAC" said CSI President Brenda Naylor.
  
• Continovation Services Inc. provides innovative electronic transaction and messaging services related to industry transactions with all health care provider offices, insurance carriers, software vendors, networks and other health industry businesses. ITRANS™ is a trademark owned by Continovation Services Inc. For more information on Continovation Services please refer to their website at www.continovation.com.

National e-claims Standard

• The OAC continues to participate in and support the work of the National E-claims Standard (NeCST) project. This initiative is currently developing Canadian standard messaging and implementation protocols that will be compliant with the international HL7 standard. While the OAC and CSI ITRANST are initiating implementation of their electronic claims program prior to the completion of the NeCST project by using NeCST-HL7 style messages, it is understood that there will be an immediate incorporation of the completed HL7 standard when that becomes available.

For more information on this and other projects of the OAC contact Mary Field, Chief Administrative Officer for OAC National Affairs mfield@opticians.ca.