CombiMatrix Announces Payor Contract With InterWest Health

CombiMatrix Corporation CBMX, a molecular diagnostics company specializing in DNA-based testing services for pre- and postnatal developmental disorders and pre-implantation genetic screening, today announced it has entered into a contractual agreement with InterWest Health, LLC ("InterWest") for coverage of CombiMatrix's suite of diagnostic laboratory services. InterWest is the largest and most comprehensive network available in the northwest region of the Unites States, consisting of over 25,000 hospitals, physicians and other providers. InterWest contracts with providers in Montana, Idaho, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. With the addition of InterWest, CombiMatrix now has in-network coverage with seven PPO plans, including America's Choice Provider Network, FedMed, Fortified Provider Network, Multiplan, Stratose, and Three Rivers Provider Network. Together with CombiMatrix's existing commercial insurance contracts, these managed care organizations provide access to more than 150 million insured lives. "As we continue to expand our commercial organization into new markets like the Pacific Northwest, it is important for us to partner with comprehensive networks like InterWest," said Mark McDonough, President and Chief Executive Officer of CombiMatrix. "This relationship is a result of our continued focus on executing our third-party payor strategy to deliver microarray technologies to doctors and patients nationwide, and enables us to offer our suite of diagnostic services, including CombiSNP™ Microarray Analysis, to the members of InterWest. Their ultimate goal, as is ours, is to ensure that the end-user patients are able to receive excellent care in the location of their choice from high quality providers, all at a cost that is both acceptable and attractive to their payor clients and providers. This is yet another example that our continued investment in our payer relations team over the past few months is working."