Partnerships with the right software vendors can facilitate greater collaboration between providers and payers.
Healthcare execs have big plans to invest in AI and advanced analytics software to improve efficiency, payer relations, and patient access.
But far too often, shiny new tools that promise to help end up doing more harm than good, according to Debbie Schardt, DSL, MBA-HCA, RN, assistant VP of revenue cycle and utilization management at MultiCare Health System.
Schardt recently told HealthLeaders Media about her approach to partnering with RCM and UM software vendors.
Take your time vetting vendors
MultiCare took their time before bringing a vendor into their revenue cycle operations. They ultimately selected a relative newcomer – becoming just the third client to partner with the vendor.
"I think I made them do 20 demos for me, then my team, and then the executive team, Schardt said.
Working smarter, not harder
The decision to work with a newer vendor was a "wise risk," according to Schardt. The partnership has been successful so far.
Among payers collaborating with MultiCare on shared software platforms, Schardt says there has clearly been a decline in denials for clear-cut cases.
It's mutually beneficial. "They've noticed efficiencies, we've noticed efficiencies, the relationship is a little bit better because we're really talking about the gray-zone cases," Schardt explained.
To learn more about Schardt's approach to payer-provider software adoption, check out our earlier coverage.
Luke Gale is the revenue cycle editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
With so many dollars being invested in various software solutions to promote more efficient provider-payer interactions, it is important that revenue cycle leaders carefully consider which vendors they work with.
Any payer-provider software solution should create efficiencies for both sides and facilitate greater collaboration to foster an environment where working smarter, not harder becomes the norm.