Argus Launches Automated Prior Authorization

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Argus Health Systems, Inc., a leading transparent pharmacy benefits administrator, today announced the release of its Automated Prior Authorization services. This innovative suite of solutions and software is designed specifically to enable health plans to improve quality and operating efficiencies during the prior authorization process.

Automation expedites accurate and consistent results for patients needing prior authorization for medical services. Argus's web-based solution supports on-demand customization and management of clinical criteria. Its rules-based decision making enables a systematic approach to coordinating prior authorizations, including requesting receipts and notifying members and physicians.

The Automated Prior Authorization solution from Argus is designed to help plans improve quality and ensure consistent outcomes while reducing administrative expenses through more efficient, streamlined operations. Many plans have realized consistently higher quality at a significant cost savings after implementing this solution, which reduces the amount of time health plans spend on managing the authorization process by an average of 40 percent.

"Plans utilizing Automated Prior Authorization from Argus are working to improve the quality of care to their members while improving their bottom lines in a difficult economy," said Jonathan Boehm, president and chief executive officer of Argus. "The solution's automated decision criteria engine enables plans to save time and reduce error rates, while providing a consistent and definitive clinical outcome."

The Automated Prior Authorization suite enables health plans to configure workflows based on roles and privileges, which supports their efforts to reduce the risk of implementing unwanted or unauthorized changes. Health plans can manage privileges for specific roles from a single, intuitive user interface.

Automated Prior Authorization also manages integrated in- and out-bound faxing to help save time and expense. The solution automatically manages prior authorization receipt and distribution to the Argus claims processing system; it can also be integrated with enterprise customer service software and claim systems, thereby providing a centralized system for managing prior authorizations. 

About Argus Health Systems, Inc.

Argus is the leading independent provider of health care information management services supporting commercial, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid through a fully transparent business model. Argus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DST Systems, Inc. For more information, please visit http://argushealth.com.

The information and comments above may include forward-looking statements respecting DST and its businesses. Such information and comments are based on DST's views as of today, and actual actions or results could differ. There could be a number of factors affecting future actions or results, including those set forth in DST's latest periodic financial report (Form 10-K or 10-Q) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such factors should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking comment. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements in this press release to reflect future events.

SOURCE Argus Health Systems, Inc.