Onyx
Revolutionizing Healthcare Interoperability with End-to-End Solutions

In the dynamic healthcare landscape, the need for secure and efficient exchange of electronic health information is more critical than ever before. Recognizing this critical need, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken a proactive stance by introducing new regulations focused on interoperability and patient access. These regulations mandate that healthcare organizations must implement standardized APIs, based on the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) specification ensure seamless and secure data exchange across various systems and providers. This forward-thinking approach has paved the way for better patient care and improved health outcomes.

In the realm of FHIR, Onyx shines as a standout solution. It sets itself apart by offering a complete suite of services that assists healthcare organizationsin every aspect of the process, from identifying the required data to be converted into FHIR to defining the interface files, performing the conversion, and loading the data into the server. This integrated approach, combined with its other offerings like access control, authentication, developer portal, and sandbox environment, makes Onyx an ideal choice for healthcare organizations looking to comply with the CMS regulations and deliver exceptional patient care.

New-Age Thinking in FHIR Interoperability

Onyx’s FHIR interoperability platform, OnyxOS, serves as a solid foundation for many applications, with the patient access API being the first of many to sit atop it. This provides a flexible and reliable platform to develop and launch multiple products that cater to the unique needs of healthcare organizations. For example, Onyx is releasing a prior authorization solution in response to the latest CMS proposal, as well as a patient cost transparency solution that aligns with the No Surprises Act, making healthcare more accessible and affordable for all.

“Our involvement in building the FHIR interoperability platform has enabled us to connect with over 300 health plans using the patient access API, allowing members to easily transfer their data from one health plan to another, enabling them to build a life-long health record”

In addition, it has developed an innovative solution called Move My Health Data, which uses the Move My Health Data API to access health data from a member’s current or prior health plan, offering a complete picture of their health history and services covered by their insurance. This saves health plans a considerable amount of time and effort that would otherwise be required to connect with various health organizations to obtain the data.

According to Mark Scrimshire, Onyx’s Chief Interoperability Officer, “Our involvement in building the FHIR interoperability platform has enabled us to connect with over 300 health plans using the patient access API, allowing members to easily transfer their data from one health plan to another, enabling them to build a life-long health record.”

What sets Onyx apart from other organizations is its team’s extensive experience and expertise in shaping implementation guides. Unlike other organizations that wait for implementation guides to be released before building products, it is actively involved in writing and shaping them. For instance, its team has collaborated with international standards for the exchange and retrieval of electronic health information like Health Level Seven (HL7) to write the DaVinci Payer Data exchange (PDex) implementation guide, and develop the specification for the next phase of payer-to-payer exchange and payer-to-provider exchange.

This level of involvement enables Onyx to stay ahead of the curve in terms of healthcare interoperability solutions and ensure its products are aligned with industry standards. By leveraging its team’s vast experience and expertise, it continues to develop innovative solutions that enable healthcare organizations to improve patient care, enhance the patient experience, and meet regulatory requirements with ease.

Adding an Expert Edge to Healthcare Interoperability

Onyx’s exceptional expertise in FHIR and interoperability can be traced back to its parent company, NewWave Technologies. With a proven track record in the federal healthcare industry and having developed the Blue Button 2.0 API for CMS, New Wave has amassed invaluable experience and insight into the sector. Drawing on this expertise, Onyx was established to help healthcare organizations overcome the compliance obstacles they face and achieve regulatory compliance.

Its unwavering dedication to improving patient care and meeting regulatory requirements has resulted in numerous successful collaborations with federal agencies, including a notable partnership in Atlanta.

One of Onyx’s clients, a Blue Cross affiliate, encountered difficulties in integrating their provider directory solution with a centralized directory created by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association using FHIR technologies.

Thanks to Onyx’s expertise, the client could seamlessly upload their data to the association. This successful implementation prompted the association to engage Onyx to further develop the consumption interface, enabling them to retrieve data from the association to include in their provider directory. This is just one example of its commitment to delivering end-to-end solutions that meet the unique needs of healthcare organizations and promote better patient outcomes.

Fostering Strong Partnerships and Delivering Efficient Solutions

Onyx’s strong partnership with Microsoft is a testament to its expertise in the FHIR space. It has created a scalable, secure, and extensible solution that is the first step tounlocking the full potential of the Microsoft Healthcare Cloud.

The collaboration between Onyx and Microsoft has been long-standing. New Wave Technologies and Microsoft previously worked together to develop platforms designed to run in the Azure Cloud. Consequently, Microsoft views OnyxOS as one of their top co-sell solutions, which has led to a significant uptick in consumption whenever the platform is introduced to a client.

In one of the recent projects with IBM and a Medicaid state agency, Onyx showcased its fast integration capability by replacing IBM’s previous FHIR interoperability platform with OnyxOS. IBM was able to go live with the patient access API for the Medicaid state agency in just a few months.

This successful project involved loading three-quarters of a million members and almost 94 million claims records onto the platform, demonstrating the organization’s ability to deliver speedy and effective solutions at scale.

Onyx’s capability to set up a fully operational test and production environment, complete with identity services, is a significant advantage that sets it apart from other healthcare technology providers. A valuable partner for healthcare organizations, Onyx is always looking forward to expanding its horizons and embracing new-age thinking in the FHIR space.

b>Addressing Identity Verification Challenges

Medicaid state agencies often face a unique challenge when it comes to complying with interoperability and patient access rules, as their beneficiaries may not have a digital account to authenticate their identity and authorize the sharing of their health data. However, Onyx has partnered with ID.me, a leading identity verification company, to offer a solution to Medicaid agencies.

Through this partnership, members can authenticate their identity through ID.me, and the data collected by ID.me can be matched with the data provided by the Medicaid agency, linking the member’s digital account with their health data. This innovative solution enables Medicaid agencies to comply with the interoperability and patient access rules while addressing the unique challenges faced by their beneficiary population.

Onyx’s FHIR interoperability platform, OnyxOS, serves as a solid foundation for many applications, with the patient access API being the first of many to sit atop it

Onyx’s partnership with ID.me offers a seamless and secure way for members to authenticate their identity and authorize the sharing of their health data, even without a traditional member portal. This provides a much-needed solution for Medicaid agencies to overcome compliance hurdles and ensure their beneficiaries have access to the care they need. Through this partnership, Onyx continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering end-to-end solutions that meet the unique needs of healthcare organizations and promote better patient outcomes.

Paving the Way for the Future of FHIR Interoperability

The healthcare industry is currently at an inflection point in FHIR interoperability. A clear shift toward a bi-directional data exchange has led health plans to re-evaluate their current systems and question whether they have the right platform to effectively manage FHIR interoperability.

Onyx is well-equipped to address the present needs and brace itself for the future with its comprehensive suite of services. As health plans continue to face pressure to meet regulatory requirements and manage FHIR interoperability efficiently, Onyx is committed to staying ahead of the curve in terms of healthcare interoperability solutions and providing innovative solutions that help their clients achieve their objectives.