DALLAS -- Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. , a premier provider of business process outsourcing and information technology solutions, announced today that it has signed a $19.9 million contract with the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS). The contract is for two years and includes options for three, one-year extensions.

Under terms of the contract, ACS will provide third-party liability (TPL) insurance verification, benefit recovery, and health insurance program administration services. ACS will also develop a new electronic imaging, workflow, and data entry system.

ACS will provide consultative services to SCDHHS to add increased efficiencies, and assist in the detection of provider billing errors and possible fraud to achieve the State's TPL objectives. These efforts include identifying and verifying new payers and maximizing cost avoidance and cost recovery processes.

First awarded a healthcare contract with South Carolina in 1996, ACS has enhanced its partnership with SCDHHS, maximized third-party efforts and results, and solidified provider relations. As a result, ACS has detailed operational and technical knowledge of the South Carolina Medicaid TPL program.

"Building on the knowledge and best practices employed in this contract, ACS will continue to assist the State in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of its third-party liability program," said John Crysler, Managing Director, ACS Government Healthcare Solutions. "The State's confidence in ACS and our experience strengthens this partnership and ensures that we will continue to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our client's day-to- day operations."

ACS is a national leader in state healthcare program administration, offering a full spectrum of systems and complementary services through an integrated solution. From care management solutions and child health programs to pharmacy benefits management and traditional Medicaid fiscal agent services, ACS has a proven track record and extensive program management expertise. ACS is also a pioneer in fraud and abuse protection and other cost containment methodologies, and is known for its collaborative approach to client relationships that produce results over the long term. ACS supports over 20 million program recipients and processes nearly 475 million Medicaid healthcare claims annually, representing more than $47 billion in provider payments. As the nation's largest government program pharmacy benefits administrator, ACS serves 30 programs in 25 states and the District of Columbia with drug expenditures totaling over $13 billion.

ACS, a global FORTUNE 500 company with more than 55,000 people supporting client operations reaching nearly 100 countries, provides business process outsourcing and information technology solutions to world-class commercial and government clients. The company's Class A common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACS". ACS makes technology work. Visit ACS on the Internet at www.acs-inc.com.