United Healthcare - Streamline your health care practice with technology

Streamline your health care practice with technology

Use APIs for more efficient, secure care coordination 

If you use an app on your computer, phone or tablet to complete a task, chances are you’re using an Application Programming Interface (API). An API is like a set of instructions that helps different software programs talk to each other and work together.

How does an API work?

Think of an API as a waiter in a restaurant. When you order food, you tell the waiter what you want. The waiter takes your order to the kitchen, where the chefs prepare your food. Then, the waiter brings the food back to you. The API works in a similar way:

1. Request: You (or your software) ask for something, like checking if a patient is eligible with UnitedHealthcare for a specific date of service.
2. Processing: The API takes your request to the database (the kitchen) where the information is stored.
3. Response: The database processes the request and sends the information back through the API to your software.

Why are APIs important?

APIs make it easier for different software programs to share information and work together. Benefits include:

• Automation: APIs can automate tasks, like submitting claims and checking claim status or eligibility, saving time and reducing mistakes
• Integration: APIs help your practice management software and UnitedHealthcare's system work together smoothly
• Real-time data: APIs provide up-to-date information, helping provide key information and finish your tasks faster
• Security: APIs can enforce security protocols, ensuring data is accessed and transferred securely

Examples of UnitedHealthcare’s free APIs

• Scheduling: Verify eligibility, check benefits and member responsibility or find/view member ID cards
• Care delivery: Get detailed information about previous referrals and referral submissions
• Claim submission: Submit both professional and institutional claims in 837 format
• Claim status: See claim details, coordination of benefits and payment information including the 835 detail
• Claim reconsiderations and appeals: Submit your inquiries or appeals with associated documents automatically; you can even check the status of your submission
• Demographic updates: Share additions, terminations or changes to your provider demographic information
• Documents: Streamline submitting and retrieving documents for pre-service, claim and payment

Learn more

Transform your practice with our free API solutions*. Visit our API page to explore our solutions and schedule a call today. Our consultants can guide you through the process, review the technical resources you need to move forward, and discuss the next steps to ensure a smooth implementation and maintenance of our APIs.

Schedule a call today .