Tackling the issues that plague the healthcare industry has been a passion of mine for years. Technologies exist that can address some of the challenges, especially when it comes to prior authorizations, which is why I am encouraged to be sitting alongside industry leaders during two sessions being held at the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) WEDI Annual Conference, Monday, May 21- Wednesday, May 23, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The first session, Leveraging the Standards We Already Have for the Results the Industry Needs, will focus on implementing fully automated prior authorizations for doctors and patients by leveraging existing and emerging healthcare standards. I’ll be seated on a panel with Dr. Amy Urban, Clinical Director for Interoperability at UPMC and Stephanie Geihe, Athenahealth, to talk about the issues associated with prior authorization. This session will be held, Tuesday, May 22, 1:30 pm- 2:15 pm in Grand Coronado 4-5.
The hassle associated with prior authorization is well-known. It results in hundreds of hours of wasted time each year, loss of thousands of dollars for providers and payers while patient care suffers due to the inefficiency of the process. In today’s patient-centered care environment, we cannot continue to process prior authorization in the same way. And yet, technology exists to address this problem.
In fact, technologies such as blockchain have the potential to solve many of the challenges facing the industry. When combined with other healthcare standards, blockchain can deliver a solution to an enduring problem in our industry: safeguarding the identity of individuals who are adding information to the chain. In the session As Hype Turns into Reality; What Role will Blockchain Play for Payers? led by Erik Pupo, Accenture, Michael Jacobs, Optum, Kyle Culver, Humana, and facilitated by Gail Kocher, BCBSA. I’ll be sitting alongside, leading the discussion on the potential for blockchain to ensure data integrity. This session is being held Wednesday, May 23, at 10:30 am in Grand Coronado 1-3.
The move toward patient-centered care makes efficiencies in information exchange a necessity. Technologies such as blockchain, exist to enable the secure, digital, bi-directional flow of information between stakeholders to facilitate decision-making that is in the best interest of the patient. I and other industry experts agree that standards for health information exchange is the answer.
Also, we are proud to be hosting the Newcomers reception at WEDI-Con on Monday, May 21. The reception will be held at 5:30 pm in Pueblo 1-2. This is a great opportunity for you to meet the WEDI leadership and fellow first time attendees. The general Welcome Reception follows at 6:30 pm in the Arizona Ballroom. We hope to see you there!
Please join us at any one of these during WEDI-Con and contribute to the conversation.
