Access Health Acquires Software Provider

Access Health Inc. said it acquired closely held Clinical Reference Systems Ltd. for an undisclosed amount. The Rancho Cordova-based company also said it won contracts to provide health-care information to the more than 450,000 members of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota health plans and to the 350,000 members of plans provided by HealthPartners of Arizona Inc. Access Health shares rose $3.125 to $38.25 on the Nasdaq. While the purchase of Clinical Reference, which provides software for doctors to use in educating patients, is unlikely to have a big impact on short-term earnings, analysts said it will help Access Health expand its customer base to include more physicians. Access Health provides medical information services to members of health-maintenance organizations and other subscribers.