NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- HTMS, an Emdeon company, in cooperation with the Managed Care Executive Group (MCEG), today announced the launch of their fifth annual Industry Pulse survey. Designed to identify the issues and concerns considered important by healthcare payers across the country, the annual survey is open now through October 4, 2013, and can be accessed at the HTMS Industry Pulse website.

With an emphasis on strategic and operational priorities, the survey gauges the pulse of the healthcare payer community as state healthcare insurance exchange enrollment begins and elements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) are implemented in advance of the January 1, 2014, effective date.

"We're definitely seeing the healthcare industry in motion," says Nancy Wise, vice president of planning and strategy for HTMS, an Emdeon company. "After a long period of uncertainty about what would happen next, health plans now seem to be accelerating their strategic plans with increased emphasis on innovation in product, distribution, population management and infrastructure."

"Our joint research with HTMS is seeking to uncover how the healthcare market is dealing with the changing environment and the impact of the ACA," says Ferris Taylor, strategy and planning director for MCEG. "While there are some common threads, many organizations are following different trajectories. This research will enable participants to benchmark how their own organization is tracking against these varying approaches and consider alternative strategies."

HTMS will analyze the Industry Pulse survey data and release its findings at America's Health Insurance Plans' (AHIP) Technology and Operations Forum, November 18-20, 2013, in Chicago. A white paper containing comprehensive survey results and analysis also will be available in early December on the HTMS Industry Pulse website.

HTMS, an Emdeon company, is a healthcare-exclusive consulting firm that helps health plans as they strive to operate with greater efficiency, provide higher quality customer service, optimize cost structure and comply with the changing healthcare and regulatory landscape.

About Emdeon
Emdeon is a leading provider of revenue and payment cycle management and clinical information exchange solutions, connecting payers, providers and patients in the U.S. healthcare system. Emdeon's product and service offerings integrate and automate key business and administrative functions of its payer and provider customers throughout the patient encounter. Through the use of Emdeon's comprehensive suite of products and services, which are designed to easily integrate with existing technology infrastructures, customers are able to improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase cash flow and more efficiently manage the complex revenue and payment cycle and clinical information exchange processes. For more information, visit www.emdeon.com.

About The Managed Care Executive Group
The Managed Care Executive Group (MCEG) is a national organization that provides a forum for the open exchange of information, innovative ideas, and experience among senior health plan leaders. MCEG was formed in 1988 to create a comfortable forum for the exchange of ideas, the development of valuable peer relationships and the opportunity to explore the innovation that will transform organizations and the industry.

SOURCE Emdeon Inc.