Merge Healthcare, eviCore Healthcare announce partnership
Merge Healthcare and eviCore Healthcare announced this week that they will partner to streamline the prior authorization process for imaging studies through use of Merge’s iConnect Network Services technology.
Beginning in 2016, the technology will give referring physicians, hospitals, and imaging centers that work with Merge access to prior authorization information for more than 90 million eviCore patients.
“The overall cost to the healthcare system of all practice interactions with health plans, including authorizations, is estimated between $23 billion and $31 billion annually,” Justin Dearborn, Merge Healthcare CEO, said in a statement. “The Merge-eviCore agreement is intended to benefit providers and payers by applying a technology-based solution to what has been a largely analog process. In doing so, Merge and eviCore expect to bring a new level of operational efficiency to imaging centers and referring physicians, with the potential to help lower the risk of providers going unreimbursed for medical payment claims based on incomplete or absent prior authorization documentation.”
The companies cited research that says iConnect Network Services could save physicians 10-20 hours of work per week.
Back in October, Merge Healthcare was acquired by IBM for $1 billion.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.