Biotech
Monday, February 26th, 2024 4:31 pm EDT
Key Points
- Highmark Health is integrating technology from Google Cloud and Epic Systems to enhance data gathering for healthcare providers and payers, addressing the challenge of fragmented healthcare data storage across different systems and formats in the U.S.
- The integration aims to streamline access to critical patient data by combining Epic’s Payer Platform with Google’s analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities, allowing quicker access to information such as upcoming visits, medical history, insurance claims, and health plan benefits.
- Highmark anticipates significant benefits from the integration, including automation of administrative processes, improved decision-making for physicians, enhanced care quality, and cost savings estimated at around $2.7 million annually. The company plans to roll out the technology to its provider network by the end of the second quarter and expand its implementation to additional providers within its insurance network by the end of 2024.
Highmark Health has unveiled plans to leverage technology from Google Cloud and healthcare software company Epic Systems in a bid to enhance data gathering for healthcare providers and payers. The initiative addresses the challenge of fragmented healthcare data storage across various systems and formats in the U.S., which often complicates access for stakeholders. By combining Epic’s Payer Platform with Google’s analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities, Highmark aims to streamline access to critical patient data such as upcoming visits, medical history, insurance claims, and health plan benefits. This integration is expected to automate administrative processes like prior authorization, reducing manual efforts and potentially improving patient care while lowering costs. Dr. Tony Farah, Chief Medical and Clinical Transformation Officer at Highmark Health, highlighted the importance of providing actionable information to physicians promptly to facilitate informed decision-making. The integration also aims to enhance care quality by ensuring patients receive optimal treatment while minimizing unnecessary steps like extra visits or readmissions. Additionally, Highmark anticipates significant cost savings, estimating around $2.7 million annually from shared claims data. Amy Waldron, Global Director of Healthcare Strategy and Solutions at Google Cloud, emphasized the value consumers will derive from accessing their healthcare data. While the full impact of Highmark’s integration remains to be seen, the company plans to roll out the technology to its provider network by the end of the second quarter and to at least two additional Epic-based providers within its insurance network by the end of 2024.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/26/highmark-health-integrating-tech-from-google-cloud-and-epic-systems-.html
