“The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is having a busy time. In addition to its effort to provide clarity for its interoperability rule, the department announced that it’s looking for ways electronic prior authorization can be improved.”
“Don Rucker, head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, said at Academy Health’s annual research conference in Washington, D.C., in early June that the current state of prior authorization, including the requirement that providers obtain approval from a patient’s insurance before prescribing medication or therapy, is a ‘non-computerized kabuki of payment’ that ‘needs to get rethought…’”
“One popular solution supported by the coalition is electronic prior authorization (ePA).”
“Electronic prior authorization could save the industry almost $420 million per year, with providers recouping roughly $280 million alone, according to healthcare business processes nonprofit CAQH.” Read the full article here.
Source: HHS’ ONC division wants streamlined prior authorization, better price transparency – By Scott E. Rupp, June 13, 2019. MultiBriefs.