Healthcarefirst acquires Lewis Computer Services

Ozark-based health software provider Healthcarefirst has acquired another company offering similar products.

The company acquired Baton Rouge, La.-based Lewis Computer Services Inc. on June 7. Lewis and its more than 100 employees join the 60 employees of Healthcarefirst. Other terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Healthcarefirst, founded in 1992, offers software and Web-based services to the home health care and hospice industries for billing, billing recovery and coding services.

Lewis, founded in 1982, offers a wide variety of similar health care software applications that Healthcarefirst officials say will complement its own offerings.

Healthcarefirst, a member of Springfield Business Journal's 2010 Dynamic Dozen, had 60 employees as of earlier this year, including 48 in Ozark. The company posted 43 percent revenue growth between 2007 and 2009, with estimated 2009 revenues of $6.4 million.

Company President and CEO Bobby Robertson said the company is now "the nation's largest provider of home care and hospice products and services."

Robertson said the combined company will operate as Healthcarefirst and keep its headquarters in Ozark, though Lewis products will continue to be offered and the company will have a second office in Louisiana.