Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health struck a partnership with Availity to enhance its revenue cycle management in the wake of the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
Sanford will use Availity Essentials Pro to simplify its claim and payment processing through an integrated, all-payer clearinghouse with pre-service, post-service, and post-adjudication capabilities, according to a Dec. 10 news release from the RCM company.
The system's decision to partner with Availity was accelerated by its experience with Availity Lifeline in the aftermath of the Change Healthcare ransomware attack, according to the release. Availity Lifeline offered free connectivity for critical transactions, including eligibility and benefits, claims submission and status, and remittance advices, for the duration of the months-long ransomware attack.
Within days of implementing Availity Lifeline, Sanford was able to resume processing clean claims and receiving reimbursements, according to the release.
"The cyberattack put our health system under tremendous pressure to get claims out the door," Sanford Health Vice President of Revenue Cycle Tony Morrison said in the release. "Availity’s commitment to customer success and their expertise in change management, were key factors in our decision to go with them long-term."