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                                                                  Exhibit 3.1(A)


                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                        VISTA INFORMATION SOLUTIONS, INC.



         VISTA Information Solutions, Inc. (the "Corporation"), a corporation
organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, does hereby certify:

         1. The Amendment to the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation set
forth below was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242
and has been consented to by the stockholders in accordance with Section 222 of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware;

         2. Article EIGHTH of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation is
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         "Subject to the rights of any holders of Preferred Stock, the number of
         directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of
         Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total
         number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any
         vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such
         resolution is presented to the Board for adoption). The directors
         (other than those elected only by the holders of one or more series of
         Preferred Stock) shall be divided into three classes with the term of
         office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of the
         stockholders following adoption of this provision, and the term of
         office of the second class to expire at the second annual meeting of
         stockholders held following the adoption of this provision, and the
         term of office of the third class to expire at the third annual meeting
         of stockholders following the adoption of this provision. After the
         directors are divided into the three classes as set forth in the
         preceding sentence, all subsequent elections (other than elections only
         by the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock) shall be for
         term to expire at each third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders
         after such election. All directors shall hold office until the
         expiration of the term for which elected, and until their respective
         successors are elected, except in the case of death, resignation, or
         removal of any director. No decrease in the number of directors
         constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any
         incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series
         of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the newly created directorships
         resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or
         any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death,
         resignation or other reason (other than removal from office for cause
         by a vote of the stockholders) may be filled by a majority vote of the
         Directors then in office, though less than a quorum. Subject to the
         rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then
         outstanding, any


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         vacancies created as a result of removal by the stockholders of one or
         more directors for cause shall be filled by a vote of the
         stockholders."




         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, VISTA Information Solutions, Inc. has caused this
Certificate to be executed by Thomas R. Gay, its authorized officer, on this ___
day of January, 2000.



                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Thomas R. Gay, President


Attest:


By:
   -------------------------------------
   E. Stevens Hamilton, Secretary





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