Waystar, a leading provider of healthcare payment solutions, has unveiled an innovative product named Auth Accelerate, designed to enhance the efficiency of the authorization submission process in the healthcare sector. This exciting new solution addresses the challenging landscape that healthcare providers face when it comes to prior authorizations, which have emerged as one of their primary administrative pain points. Research from a third-party survey indicates that automation in patient access, including prior authorizations, tops the investment list for 2025 for healthcare providers.
The complications surrounding prior authorizations often lead to extended wait times and administrative overload. Securing approval from payers is no simple task; it requires navigating intricate rules and performing continuous status checks that can take up to 24 minutes for each request. Given that millions of prior authorizations are carried out annually, this labor-intensive process significantly contributes to the administrative burdens within healthcare. A survey conducted by the American Medical Association reveals staggering statistics: over 25% of physicians report that prior authorizations have caused serious adverse events for their patients, while 78% acknowledge that delays lead to patients abandoning necessary care.
In response to these challenges, the Auth Accelerate solution revolutionizes the traditional and often sluggish workflow of authorization submissions. According to data from current clients who have implemented the service, Auth Accelerate reduces submission times by an astonishing 70% and enhances auto-approval rates to 85%. This advancement directly addresses the key obstacles faced by healthcare providers, increasing productivity, alleviating care delays for patients, and minimizing labor-intensive denials. Additionally, it significantly cuts the average wait time for payer approval from over four days down to one day or less—a remarkable reduction of 75%.
Matt Hawkins, CEO of Waystar, stated, "Healthcare providers consistently highlight prior authorizations as a crucial challenge, emphasizing its toll on resources and its negative impact on patient care. With advanced automation technologies ushered in by Waystar Auth Accelerate, we are streamlining this process, allowing providers to refocus their efforts back on patient care rather than administrative tasks. Our commitment to delivering transformative innovations aims to ensure timely and precise payments while providing patients with a clear and consumer-friendly financial journey."
One of the early adopters of the Waystar Auth Accelerate solution is Prisma Health, the largest healthcare system in South Carolina, serving over 1.6 million distinct patients each year. Patrick Griffin, Executive Director of Revenue Cycle at Prisma Health, shared his insights on the issue: "Prior authorizations constitute one of our most significant administrative hurdles. By partnering with industry leaders on innovative processes, we can enact substantial improvements within our organization and consequently deliver superior care to our patients."
Waystar's cloud-based software solution has been gaining traction among healthcare providers aiming to bolster operational efficiency, enhance financial performance, and overcome vital administrative challenges like prior authorizations. In fact, just last month, Waystar's Patient Access solutions were recognized as Best in KLAS due to their impact on the industry. This follows the announcement of Waystar AltitudeAI, an extensive suite of AI capabilities aiming to support providers, which includes AltitudeCreate—an innovative generative AI tool designed to assist in appealing denied claims.
At Waystar, the mission is to provide software that simplifies healthcare payments, thereby enabling providers to focus on what truly matters: their patients and the surrounding communities. Serving approximately 30,000 clients that encompass more than a million distinct providers, including 16 out of the 20 named institutions on the U.S. News Best Hospitals list, Waystar processes over 6 billion healthcare payment transactions annually, accounting for more than $1.8 trillion in gross claims across about 50% of the U.S. patient population. As they seek to transform healthcare payments, Waystar continues to pave the way toward better patient care and streamlined administrative processes.
For more details on the new Auth Accelerate solution, healthcare providers can learn more at Waystar’s website:
waystar.com.