Cerner and SearchAmerica Ink Deal – Analyst Blog

Cerner Corp. (CERN), a leader in providing licensed solutions to optimize processes in the healthcare industry, recently entered into a reseller agreement with SearchAmerica (with a mission in the area of financial clearing of patients), a segment of Experian. Under the terms of the agreement, SearchAmerica’s platform of financial services will be integrated with Cerner’s revenue cycle management products, a part of the Cerner Millennium platform. According to a spokesperson, SearchAmerica’s abilities will provide Cerner with vital data and ensure that it has accurate financial, demographic and allied information to offer proper billing services to its customers.

   

SearchAmerica offers a wide range of products and services. These products are already being used by a large number of hospitals across the nation. Among operational parameters, healthcare providers derive utility from SearchAmerica’s services in the areas of automated segmentation as well as prioritization and collection of receivables. Such capability enhances cash flow while also providing a mechanism to slash overall expenses.

 

Specific benefits of this agreement for customers using Cerner’s Millennium include the following: Address Checker, which confirms demographic data of patients during the registration process; Payment Advisor Suite, which permits categorization of patients to forecast the chances of collection; enhanced ability to screen patients for Medicaid, other government-sponsored programs, charity care, uninsured discounts, etc; and further coordination with Cerner’s registered processes to direct patients to financial advice, prior to completion of registration.

 

SearchAmerica, a component of Experian, has expertise in clearing patients after confirming their addresses, predicting their payment capability and automatic screening for fiscal assistance utilizing its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. Experian is a data services company, which provides customers access to analytical tools in about 90 nations. It helps customers prevent fraud and control their credit risk. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It recorded revenues of $3.9 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.