The TriZetto Group’s (NASDAQ: TZIX) 26^th Annual Benefits Administration Client Conference, held this month in Chicago, provided a forum for more than 150 representatives from 65 organizations to discuss Integrated Healthcare Management (IHM) in benefits administration and the opportunities this approach presents for benefit administrators in today’s challenging national economy.

IHM is the systematic application of processes and shared information to optimize the coordination of benefits and care for the healthcare consumer. This emerging industry imperative is playing a major role across all aspects of the healthcare system, including benefits administration.

“This was an excellent conference,” said Ed O’Brien, president of Creative Plan Administrators in East Hartford, Conn. “The IHM message is an important one, and I left the event with a lot of great ideas and information from other clients who are implementing IHM strategies and experiencing greater success in the market. The fact that TriZetto is integrating affordable approaches to help us create IHM initiatives of our own is a tremendous benefit for clients such as me.”

Today’s benefits administrators are best positioned to capitalize on the IHM directive, using TriZetto’s affordable tools and integrated functionality through the new release of the QicLink™ 4.10 system and the products and services available through the exclusive TriZetto Premier Partnership Program™ (PPP). In addition to workshops about the concept of IHM, PPP and the new functionality and advanced Microsoft^® .NET framework of the QicLink 4.10 application, several TriZetto clients shared their experiences in moving forward with IHM-based strategies supported by the QicLink product and offerings of one or more of TriZetto’s premier partners.

Jeff Knox, chief technology officer for Mutual Assurance Administrators in Oklahoma City, is currently in the process of final testing of the QicLink 4.10 product release, prior to full implementation in late summer. “As the first licensed client scheduled to move to the new technology, we are happy with the functionality and migration testing we have completed so far. TriZetto has been very committed to supporting our success, and we have been impressed with the input and attention we have received during this process, from Rick Fitzgerald, TriZetto’s senior vice president and chief operating officer of benefits administration, on down.