Healthcare industry payment service HICAPS has started accepting payments made with American Express cards. HICAPS is used mainly by ancillary health service providers and has more than 48,000 participating providers.Amex said in a media release that its cardholders would earn points on HICAPS payments.Amex would not say what its merchant service fee would be, except that it was a "very competitive rate", with one standard charge regardless of the type of Amex card presented."We'd hope there wouldn't be any surcharge to customers," an Amex spokesperson said.To promote the new arrangement, Amex has included healthcare providers in its Shop Small campaign. It has allocated A$600,000 to award 120 small business grants worth $5000 each.HICAPS is owned by National Australia Bank and forms part of its NAB Health business unit.