Patent ID: 8249893

Claim:
A method for paying service providers, comprising: transmitting a first payment by one or more computers to a service provider from a card processor, the first payment including a first explanation of benefits adjudicated by a third party administrator, a payment card account number, a payment card verification code, an expiration date and a first payment amount; receiving by the one or more computers an array of data fields from a card network to the card processor responsive to the service provider processing the first payment, the array of data fields including a merchant identification number associated with the service provider and an acquirer identification associated with the acquirer that processes card transactions on behalf of the service provider; storing by the one or more computers the merchant identification number and acquirer identification in a non-transitory digital storage medium accessible by the card processor; retrieving via the one or more computers the stored merchant identification number and acquirer identification from the digital storage medium responsive to authorization by the third party administrator to the card processor to issue a second payment to the service provider; transmitting via the one or more computers from the card processor, a second payment directly to the acquirer, the second payment transmission including the merchant identification retrieved from the digital storage medium by the card processor and a second payment amount authorized by the third party administrator; receiving an authorization response indicating the transaction has been approved and the acquirer will deposit funds associated with the second payment amount on behalf of the service provider; and transmitting via the one or more computers a payment receipt to the service provider, the receipt including the amount paid directly to the acquirer and a second explanation of benefits.