Exhibit 5.1


                                  May 25, 2006

Per-Se Technologies, Inc.
1145 Sanctuary Parkway
Suite 200
Alpharetta, Georgia  30004

         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 1,500,000 shares of the Company's voting
common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), that may be issued to
employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company pursuant to the
Per-Se Technologies, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and 75,000
shares of Common Stock that may by issued pursuant to the exercise of a stock
option granted to Stephen M. Scheppmann as an employment inducement grant (the
"Options"), 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 and the Options are duly
authorized and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the
Options, 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