Exhibit 5

                           Opinion of Paul J. Quiner





                     [PER-SE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. LETTERHEAD]

                                  May 9, 2003

Per-Se Technologies, Inc.
2840 Mt. Wilkinson Parkway
Atlanta, Georgia  30339

         Re:      Per-Se Technologies, Inc. -- Form S-8 Registration Statement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I serve as General Counsel to Per-Se Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). In connection with the proposed filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") relating to 1,163,431 shares of the Company's voting
common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), that may be issued to
non-executive employees of the Company pursuant to the Per-Se Technologies,
Inc. Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Non-Executive Employees, as amended
(the "Plan"), I have examined and relied upon such records, documents,
certificates and other instruments as in my judgment are necessary or
appropriate to form the basis for the opinion set forth below. In all such
examinations, I have assumed the genuineness of signatures on original
documents and the conformity to such original documents of all copies submitted
to me as certified, conformed or photographic copies, and as to any
certificates of public officials, I have assumed the same to have been properly
given and to be accurate.

         This opinion is limited in all respects to the federal laws of the
United States of America and the laws of the State of Delaware, and no opinion
is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any effect
which such laws may have on the opinion expressed below.

         Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations,
qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, I am of the opinion that the
shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan are duly
authorized and, when issued in the manner and on the terms described in the
Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.


                                     Sincerely,



                                     /s/ PAUL J. QUINER
                                     Paul J. Quiner
                                     Senior Vice President
                                     and General Counsel