More Than 820 CATAPULT® Retail Locations Now Live with Health Benefit Card Acceptance

Boone, NC— October 26, 2026 — More than 820 CATAPULT^® retail locations are now live with integrated Health Benefit Card acceptance, as ECRS^® continues expanding direct access to supported Health Benefit processors for retailers. In 2026 YTD, 146 locations added Health Benefit acceptance.

Expanding Beyond Pharmacy

Health Benefit Cards are becoming an increasingly important tender across grocery, retail, and pharmacy environments. Depending on the shopper’s plan, benefits may apply to produce, healthy foods, personal-care products, OTC medications, and other qualified everyday items.

For grocers and other retailers, Health Benefit Cards can extend well beyond the pharmacy department. Accepting Health Benefit Cards can help retailers serve existing customers more completely while helping capture benefit-funded purchases that might otherwise go to another retailer.

Participating locations may also appear within a benefit provider’s store locator or member application, helping eligible shoppers identify nearby retailers where their benefits can be used.

ECRS works with retailers to evaluate Health Benefit opportunities using provider-supplied funding information by ZIP code. This gives operators additional visibility into available benefit dollars within the communities they serve before pursuing implementation.

One of the Industry’s Most Affordable Approaches to OTC Processing

CATAPULT supports integrated Health Benefit Card processing through InComm OTC, FIS Filtered Spend, Optum S3, and NationsBenefits Direct.

By connecting directly with supported Health Benefit processors rather than relying on additional third-party gateways, ECRS provides CATAPULT retailers with one of the most affordable approaches to integrated OTC processing in the industry. This direct approach removes additional processing layers and their associated costs while keeping Health Benefit acceptance integrated with the technology already powering the store.

Through CATAPULT Smart Tendering, the system can automatically identify a supported Health Benefit Card and route eligible purchases through the appropriate integration, reducing checkout complexity for employees and shoppers. Eligible benefit amounts are applied based on the benefit provider’s response, and shoppers can complete any remaining balance using another supported tender.

Health Benefits can also be used alongside other supported tenders within the same transaction, helping provide a more seamless checkout experience.

Example of a Health Benefit Card used during a transaction.

Turning Health Benefit Acceptance into Retail Growth

For CATAPULT retailers, Health Benefit acceptance represents more than an additional way to pay. Direct processor integrations provide an affordable path to accepting these benefits while creating opportunities to serve eligible shoppers and capture benefit-funded purchases already available within their markets.

The ability to accept Health Benefit Cards can be particularly relevant for grocery, natural foods, pharmacy, and other retailers selling qualifying everyday products. By understanding the programs and funding available within their service areas, retailers can make a more informed decision about whether Health Benefit Card acceptance makes sense for their business.

Program availability, eligible products, health-plan participation, reimbursement, certification requirements, and transaction terms vary by processor and plan. ECRS works with retailers to understand available integration options and determine the appropriate path forward.

Explore the Health Benefit Opportunity

CATAPULT retailers interested in Health Benefit Card acceptance can work with ECRS to explore available programs and better understand the potential opportunities within their market. Retailers can review the Health Benefit overview guide, create a support ticket, or contact the E-Payments team at epayments@ecrs.com.

Retailers using other point-of-sale systems can contact solutions@ecrs.com to request program information, schedule a demonstration, and discuss available options.

About ECRS

Family-owned since 1989, ECRS is a Certified Evergreen® retail transactions and artificial intelligence solutions provider, offering simple, practical solutions that unify operations and empower independent retailers to thrive. ECRS’ revolutionary CATAPULT® POS platform, powered by Unified Transaction Logic®, is the market’s only truly unified transaction platform that seamlessly connects all retail touchpoints. With CATAPULT, all retail touchpoints—including point of sale, back office, self-checkout, deli scale, fuel pump, pharmacy, inventory, loyalty, eCommerce, and enterprise management—share one single transactional logic. Unifying hardware, software, and services, ECRS offers friction-free, cost-saving solutions that make advanced automation accessible while transforming the consumer experience.