Humana this week said it will expand its use of a pair of tools from Epic to help its Medicare Advantage members more easily confirm coverage and simplify check-in at the doctor's office.
WHY IT MATTERS
More than 800,000 Humana MA members who get their care at about 120 different health systems nationwide will now have access to Epic's Coverage Finder and Digital Insurance Card Exchange tools – helping make checking in at the doctor's office easier and enabling them to confirm coverage automatically and ahead of time.
The applications, part of Epic's growing Payer Platform, are able to streamline and secure the sharing of coverage details and digital insurance cards with its provider clients, eliminating the need for manual entry or physical cards at check-in and reducing administrative burden for staff.
Automated insurance verification means staff members don't need to spend time manually entering information, and use of digital cards for check-in allows for more efficient outpatient throughput.
Additionally, automating coverage entry can help prevent mistakes and ensure more accurate billing, Humana points out, and it's more secure too – with data exchanged using national interoperability standards that protect patient information.
Humana's most recent effort with Epic comes after the MyChart integration the health plan announced this past summer, with Humana Medicare Advantage members able to see coverage information directly within their patient portal.
THE LARGER TREND
The new offerings stem from Epic's and Humana's recent sign-on with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Health Technology Ecosystem initiative, which seeks to reduce or eliminate cumbersome paper-based processes and build a more patient-centric digital healthcare system.
The companies were among the first five dozen healthcare organizations to join the ecosystem. More than 400 organizations nationwide are now onboard with the White House-backed effort.
"We're proud to be among the first to bring these capabilities to life and demonstrate them directly to CMS," said George Renaudin, president of Insurance at Humana. "This is more than a technology launch – it's a step toward a more connected, efficient healthcare system that puts people first."
ON THE RECORD
"With Coverage Finder and Digital Insurance Card Exchange, more than a million patients have experienced easier check-ins," said Epic Vice President Alan Hutchison in a statement. "From reducing time at the front desk by up to 50% to ensuring their coverage is accurate and up to date, this makes insurance information one less thing patients need to worry about."
"These capabilities help us meet patients where they are – by simplifying check-in, ensuring accurate information, and making their experience smoother," added Dr. Imran A. Andrabi, MD, president and CEO of Froedtert ThedaCare. "It's an improvement that helps patients feel supported the moment they walk in, which directly aligns with our vision of being their trusted partner in health."
Mike Miliard is executive editor of Healthcare IT News
Email the writer: mmiliard@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.
