Prior Authorization Decision Trees from Relational Database Entries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methodologies for programmatically executing automatic authorizations, such as prior authorizations in healthcare, do not provide exhaustive, unambiguous, and synoptic management and maintenance of prior authorization requirements, leading to inconsistencies, gaps, and errors in data input, updating, searching, viewing, and analyzing across disparate systems.

Innovation Solution

The development of a system that uses relational database tables to populate fields with prior authorization requirements, generating decision trees based on these requirements, and traversing them to provide responses to prior authorization requests, ensuring comprehensive and consistent management and accessibility of authorization data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current methodologies are used for programmatically executing automatic authorizations, then the system is simpler to implement, but the management and maintenance of prior authorization requirements becomes inconsistent and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsistency of authorization dataVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments prior authorization requirements into discrete, structured data elements stored in relational database tables. Each requirement is broken down into specific fields (e.g., authorization type, criteria, duration) that can be independently managed and queried, eliminating inconsistencies while maintaining system manageability through modular data organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a standardized data interface layer between the authorization requirements and the execution system. This intermediary layer uses uniform data structures and query protocols that enable consistent access and management of prior authorization data across disparate systems without requiring complex point-to-point integrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If disparate systems are used for prior authorization management, then system flexibility is maintained, but data accessibility and consistency across systems deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem interoperabilityVSAvoiddata accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal data structure for prior authorization requirements that can be accessed by multiple different systems and applications. The standardized relational database schema and query interface enable any authorized system to access and execute authorization checks consistently, providing broad interoperability while maintaining data integrity across the entire ecosystem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If manual methods are used for managing prior authorization requirements, then implementation complexity is reduced, but the exhaustiveness and completeness of authorization coverage decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaustiveness of authorization requirementsVSAvoiddata management system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service capabilities where the system automatically populates, updates, and maintains prior authorization requirements in the relational database. The structured data model enables automated querying, validation, and execution of authorization checks without manual intervention, ensuring exhaustive coverage of all authorization scenarios while reducing operational complexity through automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11816085B2Programmatic determinations using decision trees generated from relational database entries
Publication Date: 2023.11.14 UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC
  • US11816085B2 patent drawing
  • US11816085B2 patent drawing
  • US11816085B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for programmatic methodologies for determining and providing prior authorization requirements in a way that facilitates inputting information/data, updating information/data, searching information/data, viewing information/data, reporting information/data, and analyzing information/data while being broadly accessible to disparate systems.