Clearinghouse

A clearinghouse is an organization that receives claims data from practice management systems and repackages it in electronic or paper format to send to payers in bulk.  Clearinghouses started out as independent organizations, but now many are owned by vendors who require customers to use their clearinghouses if they use their practice management systems.  Clearinghouses now also offer eligibility products, patient statement services, claims scrubbing products, and electronic remittance interfaces for direct posting of receipts into practice management systems.