HME Industry Q&A with Alan Lynch, ATLAS

HC: What unmet needs or challenges led to the development of the ATLAS system?

AL: We recognize that our industry is in the middle of a very pivotal time for mobility and HME providers. They are facing the challenge of providing equipment on reduced margins and with increased scrutiny of their documentation. In addition to these challenges, providers are also confronted with the risk of refused payments if the documentation is found to be inadequate during an audit. ATLAS was born as out of necessity as the provider side of our business searched for a software solution to allow us to tackle these challenges. As we looked at what was available in the market we found many good options, but didn’t feel that any of them offered an all-in-one product that fully met our needs. Many of these current software products addressed a specific area but required us to maintain multiple licenses and deal with limited integration between systems. ATLAS was created to provide a true A to Z software solution that is cost effective and gives providers an edge against their competition.

HC: What are ATLAS’s unique capabilities?

AL: ATLAS is the only system available today that provides process management specific to the payer or payers and the equipment that is being provided. ATLAS provides a detailed workflow for every situation possible. The system allows a single CSR to quickly process a variety of different types of orders with unprecedented billing integrity. This reduces the cost of operation and increases the quality of the billing file to mitigate write-offs. Document collection and administration is an integral part of an effective managing process. ATLAS provides tools such as integrated faxing, document validation and storage to allow for seamless integration with the rest of the process. Providers have the ability to customize their own workflows to include which steps and documents are required for every possible funding situation.

HC: In what way is ATLAS specifically tailored to the HME/DME industry?

AL: ATLAS provides a platform that is dynamic to the specifics needs and requirements of the payer. Whether it’s a test strip from Medicare or a complex rehab system from BCBS of Northwestern Rhode Island, ATLAS will direct you though the correct series of tasks to complete the process. The system not only allows you to know what’s required, it also helps to drive the flow of the order efficiently and accurately. We have looked at preliminary data from our beta provider and found an almost 30-percent reduction in processing time and a near-perfect approval rating with paperwork processed through ATLAS. We are excited to share ATLAS with the industry in a way that is cost effective for providers regardless of organizational size or scope.

HC: How does ATLAS give providers a competitive edge?

AL: ATLAS was meant to be more than a process and document manager. Simply put, it is a complete HME business administrative tool. In this volatile market, providers must have tools at their disposal that allow for decreased cost of processing while maintaining increased productivity. Just a few of these tools include field operators being provided with mobile access to delivery tickets and evaluation temples, clinicians having secured access though our clinical portal to review, create and sign documentation, and that it allows for electronic submission of documentation within the system without faxing. ATLAS has given our beta provider a competitive edge when marketing to payer sources, as they were pleased by the ability to see the current status of their patients. They also appreciate the consistency of process and paperwork that ATLAS provides. Any provider that partners with ATLAS is going to benefit from the variety of features that make it such a powerful resource. 

About the subject: Alan D. Lynch, ATP, is COO of ATLAS. He can be reached at 855-221-4860, [email protected] or www.atlas-vue.com.