MEA|NEA, a health IT company based in the Atlanta suburb of Norcross, announced Tuesday that it has acquired another company in the industry, the White Stone Group.

The combined company has more than 1 million customers in the medical and dental markets.

MEA|NEA said it will form two complementary business units — one focused on providers, patients and insurers in dental care, and the other focused on medical care.

A private company, MEA|NEA will maintain operations in Norcross and in Knoxville, Tenn.

The acquisition reflects metro Atlanta’s and Georgia’s leadership in the health IT field. More than 250 health IT companies are located in the state, employing more than 30,000 workers, according to the Technology Association of Georgia.

Companies in the industry offer a range of products and services, from electronic health records, medical billing and revenue management to diagnostics, preserving the security of information exchanges, and consumer health information.

MEA|NEA facilitates requests for medical and dental records and documentation for payments, audits and quality measures. The company says its technology enables providers to gain productivity through the electronic capture, storage and submission of health care documentation, including faxes, voice recordings and paper records.

The goal is for the company’s customers to see a reduction in denied claims, improved cash flow, increased upfront collections, and reduced hospital readmissions.

The Knoxville-based White Stone Group has a customer base of more than 400 active hospitals and health systems nationwide.

Lindy Benton, president and CEO of MEA|NEA, said, “Together, our solutions will enable clients to more effectively manage critical patient information that typically resides outside the electronic health record.”

She emphasized in an interview that Atlanta has a strong health IT community. “It’s an outstanding place to recruit talent.”