Houston Independent School District Collaborates with Rockport Healthcare Group, Obtains Certification in Texas for 1305 Certified TX HCN

Texas Certified Network strengthens innovative 10-year relationship for 7th largest school district in the country

HOUSTON, Texas (February 3, 2009) — Rockport Healthcare Group, a national preferred provider organization (PPO) focused exclusively on workers’ compensation, has announced that through a joint collaborative effort, their client, the Houston Independent School District (HISD), has obtained a 1305 Texas Healthcare Network (TX HCN) certificate.

Rockport has certifiable networks that provide coverage for nearly 75% of the entire working population of Texas. A newly filed material modification will soon increase the PPO’s representation to nearly 80% of the Texas population.

Texas is one of several states that certifies healthcare networks for workers’ compensation carriers, certified self insurers and government self-insured entities to contract with certified networks for the delivery of care to injured workers. There are stringent guidelines and regulatory standards that must be met to secure a certification; including ensuring that the network provides an adequate number of physicians specializing in work comp injuries, who are conveniently located and accessible 24/7 to the employee. Networks must also provide emergency services, physician and occupational therapy, as well as chiropractic and hospital services.

HISD has worked with Rockport for over 10 years in a shared effort designed to help ensure that employees have access to quality, work comp physicians while also ensuring that costs are effectively managed. The 1305 TX HCN certificate represents the latest example of the two organizations’ collaborative efforts to improve the care provided to injured employees.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with our highly collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship with HISD,” said Mark Neer, Senior VP, Business Development for Rockport Healthcare Group. “By working together with HISD to build a first-class network of the best work comp providers in the area, we are helping to return the district’s injured employees to work more quickly, safely and in a way that controls costs for HISD.”

Rockport and HISD developed a privately labeled Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) network for the benefit of HISD and their injured employees in 1999. Beyond the initial development of this customized network, Rockport also assisted HISD’s leadership by providing training, site specific provider panels, referral services for injured employees/supervisors, and continued network development efforts.

“Rockport has been a trusted and reliable partner of the district for the past ten years,” said Tom Dolan, Manager of HISD’s Workers’ Compensation program. “Rockport has a proven record of working with the medical community gaining their support and providing an unprecedented level of integrity within the industry of medical cost containment. The reputation earned by Rockport has provided the impetus for the medical community’s participation in the next generation of occupational care services offered by our certified 1305 network, Workers’ Care Network.”

About Rockport Healthcare Group:

Rockport Healthcare Group manages a national preferred provider organization network of over 400,000 providers that serves the workers’ compensation medical management sector with offices in Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and Missouri. The company’s single focus of specializing in workers’ compensation has resulted in a network of medical providers who understand early intervention, return to work guidelines and other industry-specific treatment protocols. For additional information contact Doug Markham at 800-734-4460, or visit www.rockporthealthcare.com.

About Houston Independent School District:

The Houston Independent School District (HISD), with more than 199,500 students and encompassing 301 square miles within greater Houston, is the seventh-largest public-school system in the nation, with over 300 schools, the largest in Texas. HISD is the largest employer in Houston, with approximately 29,450 full- and part-time employees. For more information, visit www.houstonisd.org .

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Joy Scott
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