The press release is vague for the same reason why I can't directly answer some of your questions/challenges. However, the fact that we're using a permissioned

The press release is vague for the same reason why I can't directly answer some of your questions/challenges. However, the fact that we're using a permissioned network does not automatically say that trust is absolutely granted. In this case it is more of a wall for a rather large and weird garden and at this stage of development it is helpful to know at least who is walking around in the garden. What they are up to is a different matter. Also, the press release mentions the problem of many provider directories existing and not every directory contains the same information. Provider data is a tent pole in the American healthcare industry and it is used in just about every area of it, from claims processing to personal health record management. You ask why not just have a central database for it? Well, the answer is simply "why do you think there are so many directories already?" The field is littered with directories that aimed to be "The single master directory for everyone!" There is a large amount of "not invented here syndrome" and an equal amount of "we have 20 years of data models that wont fit your commercial directory." So every large payer ends up building their own and then spends a lot of time and effort maintaining the data in it. Other consumers/producers of provider data may also maintain their own directories or subscribe to a commercial product. The network we constructed is not simply yet another provider master database but-on-a-blockchain. It goes beyond that and really does use key features of what most consider to be a blockchain's major benefits. I apologize for not being able to share details of what I consider to be really neat stuff but more news is on the horizon.