Which platform do providers use to electronically submit claims?

Providers use a clearinghouse to electronically submit claims because a clearinghouse acts as an intermediary that facilitates the transfer of claims between healthcare providers and insurance payers. When a provider submits a claim through the clearinghouse, it checks the data for errors, formats the claim according to the requirements of the payer, and forwards it to the appropriate insurance company. This not only streamlines the claim submission process but also helps ensure that claims are accurately processed and paid in a timely manner.

Other platforms mentioned, while they may play roles in the billing process, do not serve the specific function of submitting claims to insurers in the same way. The insurance portal typically refers to a specific interface used by an insurance company for providers to access patient information or claims status, but it does not fulfill the role of a clearinghouse. Billing software is essential for managing billing tasks and generating claims but usually needs to connect with a clearinghouse for actual submission. Direct submission can indicate sending claims directly to insurance companies or payers, which is less common as it bypasses the data verification and formatting benefits provided by a clearinghouse.