Patni Computer Systems today announced that it has been awarded a multi-million dollar, five-year contract to provide policy administration services to Universal American, a leading US health insurance company.

As part of the deal, Patni is to acquire CHCS Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal American. The acquisition creates a new hub for Patni in Pensacola, Florida and establishes a new line of business for the company as a Third-Party Administrator (or TPA) in the insurance and healthcare sectors.

Commenting on the development, Patni CEO Jeya Kumar said, "This represents the largest win in the company's history and this strategic acquisition of CHCS Services, Inc is a strong validation of Patni's differentiated micro-vertical strategy. This move takes on dual significance for Patni in terms of growing our global Life and Healthcare Insurance business as well as establishing us as a TPA."

In addition to its new, Pensacola-based hub, Patni's onshore delivery capabilities in North America also include centres in Bloomington, Illinois and El Paso, Texas, as well as a nearshore centre in Mexico.