In the wake of the Change Healthcare cybersecurity breach that shook the U.S. healthcare industry on February 21, many medical practices found themselves in an unprecedented predicament. The indefinite suspension of claims submissions infrastructure threatened to halt the vital flow of operations and cash for countless healthcare providers. Understanding that timely delivery of services can significantly impact patient outcomes and financial stability, Athelas RCM has steadfastly embraced a guiding principle: “Speed above all else.”
Athelas RCM’s Proactive Response
Understanding the gravity of the situation and the potential long-term impact on healthcare providers, Athelas RCM sprang into action. On February 27, Athelas signed a pivotal contract with Waystar and other clearinghouses to mitigate the fallout from the Change Healthcare breach and ensure an uninterrupted service to its clients.
Engineering Ingenuity
Throughout February 27, Athelas RCM’s engineering team demonstrated remarkable agility and expertise by reverse-engineering the submission formats required by Change Healthcare into versatile formats, including JSON to 837. This innovative approach not only facilitated the seamless submission of claims but also underscored the technical prowess and adaptability of the Athelas team.
Operational Excellence
In parallel, the operations team at Athelas undertook a meticulous process of spot-checking thousands of claims, working tirelessly through the night of February 27 to identify and rectify any issues. This hands-on approach ensured that claims were not only submitted through Waystar and other clearinghouses without delay but also passed all necessary verifications, reflecting the operational diligence and commitment to quality that Athelas stands by.
A Successful Launch and Beyond
The successful launch with Waystar and other clearinghouses was a milestone moment for Athelas RCM, marking the swift transition to a new, robust claims submission process. Real-time reconciliation statuses provided transparency on the acceptance and rejection of claims, offering valuable insights to practices. Following this initial success, Athelas activated auto-submit for all pending claims, effectively clearing the backlog caused by the Change Healthcare incident and restoring normalcy for its customers by the end of February 28.
Athelas RCM: A Pillar of Support
The rapid response and effective solutions deployed by Athelas RCM in the face of the Change Healthcare cybersecurity breach are a testament to its foundational philosophy of prioritizing speed and efficiency. By working relentlessly, even over evenings and weekends, Athelas confirmed that all payers were receiving claims, thereby unblocking the crucial cash flow for medical practices.
Athelas RCM’s readiness, reflected in its clearinghouse redundancy and custom software solutions, ensured that its customers could continue to submit claims without the need to switch EHRs. This holistic approach, combining multiple clearinghouses, faxes, mail, and direct API connections, guarantees continuity even in the most challenging circumstances.
We are here to support the healthcare industry of America by unblocking cash flow.
Medical practices that have been impacted by this incident, and begin to use Athelas RCM, will be able to submit claims as quickly as one week after signing an agreement.
Reach out to our team to get started or email us at change@getathelas.com to learn more.
