Craneware Announces New Solution Designed Specifically to Meet the Needs of Critical Access Hospitals

ATLANTA, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- President Barack Obama recently announced new initiatives recommended by the White House Rural Council for creating jobs and increasing access to healthcare technology in rural America. As part of this plan, loans from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be available to help more than 1,300 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) recruit additional staff and purchase software and hardware needed to implement health technology. Craneware, Inc., the market leader in automated revenue integrity solutions, has also recognized the specific challenges that rural healthcare providers face in the current economy, and as such, today announced a new revenue integrity solution specifically designed and priced to help CAH facilities use technology to optimize legitimate reimbursement, minimize compliance risk and increase operational efficiency.

Since Congress passed the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the U.S. has seen an explosion of CAHs, and yet still today these facilities face increased challenges in improving financial performance due to limited access to capital and the technology required to implement health IT solutions. Understanding that CAHs tend to run on a much smaller IT budget and staff than larger hospitals, Craneware has designed and priced a solution specifically to meet the needs of CAHs.

"By working with over 130 CAHs over the years, Craneware understands the unique revenue integrity demands on these smaller healthcare facilities. CAH financial managers must stay informed of prospective payment rules and special Medicare compliance requirements. With increased complexity today, it is virtually impossible to maintain current accurate charges without chargemaster maintenance software like that Craneware provides," said Keith Neilson, CEO, Craneware. "Craneware's CAH-specific version of Chargemaster Toolkit is now offered combined with services specific to CAHs needs. We believe the President's new rural initiative will enable more CAHs to harness the benefits of our solution for minimizing compliance risk, optimizing reimbursement and boosting operational efficiency."

"Craneware's Chargemaster Toolkit® – CAH product is affordable and maintainable. It updates the CDM every day and costs less than a single engagement with a consultant," said Bob Pascasio, CEO Bayside Hospital in Anahuac, Texas.

The revenue integrity performance solution for CAHs includes:

• Chargemaster Toolkit – CAH, a chargemaster management solution that enables a CAH to correct, maintain and manage their chargemaster with improved efficiency and accuracy at an affordable price. Automated features help maintain the chargemaster and promote compliance while strengthening the bottom line.
• Craneware's Online Reference Toolkit® set up specifically to meet the needs of CAHs. Online Reference Toolkit is a browser-based tool for reducing risk by providing easy, seamless access to specific current regulatory, competitive pricing, medical necessity and reimbursement information required for successful compliant coding, pricing and charging.
• Chargemaster CAH Performance Services that ensure ongoing support and monitoring services for the CAH's chargemaster.

Craneware will showcase its new CAH-specific solution at the National Rural Health Association's (NRHA) Critical Access Hospital Conference, September 28 to 30 in Kansas City, MO, in booth #102.

About Craneware

Craneware (AIM: CRW.L) is the leader in automated revenue integrity solutions that improve financial performance for healthcare organizations. Craneware's market-driven, SaaS solutions help hospitals and other healthcare providers more effectively price, charge, code and retain earned revenue for patient care services and supplies. This optimizes reimbursement, increases operational efficiency and minimizes compliance risk. By partnering with Craneware, clients achieve the visibility required to identify, address and prevent revenue leakage. To learn more, visit craneware.com and stoptheleakage.com.

SOURCE Craneware, Inc.