Quick Overview
- 1#1: MCG Health - Provides evidence-based clinical guidelines and decision support software to determine medical necessity for treatments and care planning.
- 2#2: InterQual - Offers standardized clinical criteria and review software for assessing medical necessity in utilization management and prior authorizations.
- 3#3: MDI Achieve - Automates medical necessity documentation and compliance checks for post-acute care providers like SNFs and rehab facilities.
- 4#4: RAAPID - Uses AI to analyze patient data and identify medical necessity for accurate billing and denial prevention.
- 5#5: Craneware - Delivers revenue integrity solutions with automated medical necessity screening and charge capture validation.
- 6#6: 3M 360 Encompass - Supports clinical documentation integrity with real-time medical necessity alerts and coding compliance.
- 7#7: Optum Revenue Cycle - Provides comprehensive revenue cycle management tools including medical necessity validation and payer rules engines.
- 8#8: Net Health - Offers specialty-specific EHR with built-in medical necessity documentation for therapy and wound care.
- 9#9: WebPT - Streamlines physical therapy workflows with medical necessity justification tools and compliance reporting.
- 10#10: athenaOne - Cloud-based EHR and practice management with integrated medical necessity checks for billing and claims.
Tools were evaluated based on clinical accuracy, user-friendliness, integration potential, and value, ensuring they deliver reliable support for decision-making, billing, and compliance across diverse care settings.
Comparison Table
Medical necessity software is essential for efficient coverage and reimbursement decisions, and this comparison table outlines key tools like MCG Health, InterQual, MDI Achieve, RAAPID, Craneware, and more. Readers will discover differences in features, usability, and integration to find the best fit for their healthcare workflows.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MCG Health Provides evidence-based clinical guidelines and decision support software to determine medical necessity for treatments and care planning. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.9/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 2 | InterQual Offers standardized clinical criteria and review software for assessing medical necessity in utilization management and prior authorizations. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 3 | MDI Achieve Automates medical necessity documentation and compliance checks for post-acute care providers like SNFs and rehab facilities. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | RAAPID Uses AI to analyze patient data and identify medical necessity for accurate billing and denial prevention. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 5 | Craneware Delivers revenue integrity solutions with automated medical necessity screening and charge capture validation. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | 3M 360 Encompass Supports clinical documentation integrity with real-time medical necessity alerts and coding compliance. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 7 | Optum Revenue Cycle Provides comprehensive revenue cycle management tools including medical necessity validation and payer rules engines. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 8 | Net Health Offers specialty-specific EHR with built-in medical necessity documentation for therapy and wound care. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.7/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 9 | WebPT Streamlines physical therapy workflows with medical necessity justification tools and compliance reporting. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 10 | athenaOne Cloud-based EHR and practice management with integrated medical necessity checks for billing and claims. | enterprise | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.0/10 | 6.8/10 |
Provides evidence-based clinical guidelines and decision support software to determine medical necessity for treatments and care planning.
Offers standardized clinical criteria and review software for assessing medical necessity in utilization management and prior authorizations.
Automates medical necessity documentation and compliance checks for post-acute care providers like SNFs and rehab facilities.
Uses AI to analyze patient data and identify medical necessity for accurate billing and denial prevention.
Delivers revenue integrity solutions with automated medical necessity screening and charge capture validation.
Supports clinical documentation integrity with real-time medical necessity alerts and coding compliance.
Provides comprehensive revenue cycle management tools including medical necessity validation and payer rules engines.
Offers specialty-specific EHR with built-in medical necessity documentation for therapy and wound care.
Streamlines physical therapy workflows with medical necessity justification tools and compliance reporting.
Cloud-based EHR and practice management with integrated medical necessity checks for billing and claims.
MCG Health
specializedProvides evidence-based clinical guidelines and decision support software to determine medical necessity for treatments and care planning.
Proprietary, annually peer-reviewed clinical guidelines that drive over 1 billion annual care decisions across the U.S.
MCG Health (mcg.com) is a leading provider of evidence-based clinical decision support software focused on medical necessity determinations for healthcare payers, providers, and health plans. Their Indicia Platform delivers comprehensive guidelines covering inpatient, surgical, ambulatory care, recovery facility, and behavioral health, enabling consistent utilization management, prior authorizations, and appeals processing. Integrated with EHRs and claims systems, it supports defensible clinical decisions backed by peer-reviewed research and frequent updates reflecting the latest medical evidence.
Pros
- Industry-gold-standard, peer-reviewed guidelines covering 98% of U.S. healthcare episodes
- Seamless API integrations with major EHRs and claims platforms for workflow efficiency
- Automated decision support with audit trails for compliance and appeals
Cons
- Enterprise-level pricing inaccessible to small practices
- Initial setup and training require significant time investment
- Guideline interpretations can sometimes feel rigid without advanced customization
Best For
Large health plans, hospitals, and payers needing authoritative, scalable medical necessity tools for high-volume utilization review.
Pricing
Custom enterprise licensing, typically $50K+ annually based on user count, member volume, or facility size; contact sales for quotes.
InterQual
enterpriseOffers standardized clinical criteria and review software for assessing medical necessity in utilization management and prior authorizations.
Proprietary InterQual Criteria sets, clinically validated and updated quarterly by expert panels
InterQual by Change Healthcare is a premier evidence-based clinical decision support platform designed for medical necessity reviews, prior authorizations, and utilization management. It provides standardized criteria across inpatient, outpatient, post-acute, and behavioral health settings to help payers and providers determine appropriate levels of care. The software integrates with EHRs and claims systems to streamline workflows, reduce denials, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Pros
- Comprehensive, peer-reviewed criteria updated multiple times annually
- Strong interoperability with major EHRs and payer systems
- Proven to lower readmissions and payment delays
Cons
- Enterprise-level pricing can be prohibitive for small practices
- Steep learning curve for non-specialist users
- Limited flexibility for custom criteria development
Best For
Large health systems, hospitals, and payers requiring industry-standard tools for high-volume medical necessity determinations.
Pricing
Custom enterprise subscription pricing based on modules, user volume, and integration needs; contact sales for quotes.
MDI Achieve
specializedAutomates medical necessity documentation and compliance checks for post-acute care providers like SNFs and rehab facilities.
Automated Skilled Services Worksheet that generates defensible medical necessity documentation directly from therapy and clinical data.
MDI Achieve, from MDI Technologies, is a comprehensive EHR platform tailored for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and long-term care providers. It specializes in medical necessity software by automating documentation for skilled services, therapy minutes tracking, and compliance with Medicare Part A requirements like the 3-day pack rule. The system integrates MDS 3.0 assessments, care planning, and billing to streamline justification of care levels and reduce audit risks.
Pros
- Robust automation for Medicare medical necessity documentation and therapy justification
- Seamless integration with MDS, care planning, and billing modules
- Strong compliance tools including audit-ready reports and regulatory updates
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical staff in SNFs
- Custom pricing can be opaque and high for smaller facilities
- Limited mobile accessibility compared to newer cloud-native competitors
Best For
Mid-to-large skilled nursing facilities needing integrated EHR and medical necessity tools for Medicare compliance.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing upon request, typically modular subscriptions starting at $50-100 per bed/month depending on facility size and modules selected.
RAAPID
specializedUses AI to analyze patient data and identify medical necessity for accurate billing and denial prevention.
RAAPID Protocol AI, delivering real-time, payer-accurate medical necessity decisions with 98%+ compliance rate
RAAPID is an AI-powered medical necessity software platform designed to automate prior authorizations, clinical eligibility determinations, and denial prevention for healthcare providers, particularly in DME, home health, and specialty services. It analyzes patient data against thousands of payer policies using proprietary algorithms to generate compliant documentation and appeal letters. The solution integrates with EHRs, PM systems, and claims platforms to streamline revenue cycle management and reduce administrative burdens.
Pros
- High-accuracy AI engine for payer-specific medical necessity checks, reducing denials by up to 50%
- Seamless integrations with major EHRs and claims systems for efficient workflows
- Automated generation of prior auth and appeal documentation saving significant time
Cons
- Custom pricing can be steep for small practices without high volume
- Performance heavily reliant on input data quality and completeness
- Initial setup and training may involve a moderate learning curve
Best For
Mid-to-large healthcare providers and DME suppliers focused on high-volume prior authorizations and denial management.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on claim volume and modules; typically subscription with per-claim fees—contact for quote.
Craneware
enterpriseDelivers revenue integrity solutions with automated medical necessity screening and charge capture validation.
Real-time AI-powered charge and code integrity engine that proactively flags medical necessity issues against payer policies
Craneware offers a comprehensive revenue integrity suite for healthcare providers, specializing in tools that ensure medical necessity compliance through real-time coding and charge validation. The platform integrates chargemaster management, clinical documentation review, and payer-specific rules to minimize claim denials and optimize reimbursements. It supports large-scale health systems by automating checks against CMS guidelines, NCDs, and LCDs, enhancing revenue cycle efficiency.
Pros
- Robust integration with EHRs and billing systems for seamless medical necessity screening
- Advanced analytics for denial prevention and revenue recovery
- Scalable enterprise-grade compliance tools tailored to complex health systems
Cons
- Steep implementation and learning curve for non-technical users
- High cost may deter smaller practices
- Limited flexibility for customization outside core revenue integrity focus
Best For
Large hospitals and health systems needing integrated revenue integrity with strong medical necessity validation to reduce denials.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing via quote; annual costs typically range from $200,000+ based on modules, user count, and organization size.
3M 360 Encompass
enterpriseSupports clinical documentation integrity with real-time medical necessity alerts and coding compliance.
Real-time NLP-powered clinical documentation improvement with proactive medical necessity alerts
3M 360 Encompass is a comprehensive clinical documentation and coding platform designed for healthcare providers, utilizing advanced natural language processing (NLP) to analyze documentation in real-time for accurate coding, compliance, and medical necessity validation. It integrates with major EHR systems to provide clinicians with immediate feedback on documentation gaps, ensuring services meet payer criteria and reducing claim denials. The solution supports both inpatient and outpatient workflows, automating DRG/grouping, quality reporting, and revenue integrity processes.
Pros
- Powerful NLP engine for real-time medical necessity checks and coding suggestions
- Seamless EHR integrations reducing documentation burdens
- Robust compliance tools minimizing audit risks and denials
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex setup for non-expert users
- High enterprise-level pricing not ideal for small practices
- Occasional over-reliance on templates limiting clinician flexibility
Best For
Large hospitals and health systems seeking integrated, AI-driven medical necessity and revenue cycle management.
Pricing
Custom enterprise licensing; typically $500K+ annually for mid-sized facilities, based on beds/users (contact 3M for quote).
Optum Revenue Cycle
enterpriseProvides comprehensive revenue cycle management tools including medical necessity validation and payer rules engines.
Real-time Claim Scrubber with 100% payer policy coverage for automated medical necessity edits and documentation prompts
Optum Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) is a comprehensive enterprise platform from Optum (optum.com) that streamlines healthcare billing, coding, and compliance processes. For medical necessity, it features advanced claim scrubbing with real-time checks against CMS National Coverage Determinations (NCDs), Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs), and payer-specific rules to prevent denials. The software integrates clinical documentation improvement and analytics to ensure services meet necessity criteria, reducing audit risks and optimizing reimbursements.
Pros
- Extensive, up-to-date medical necessity rule library covering CMS and major payers
- Seamless integration with EHRs, practice management systems, and Optum's coding tools
- Robust denial management analytics and reporting for proactive compliance
Cons
- Steep learning curve and extensive training required for full utilization
- High implementation and customization costs for smaller practices
- Interface can feel overwhelming due to its enterprise-scale feature depth
Best For
Large hospitals, health systems, and multi-specialty groups needing integrated RCM with enterprise-grade medical necessity validation.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing via quote; typically subscription-based starting at $50,000+ annually depending on volume and modules.
Net Health
specializedOffers specialty-specific EHR with built-in medical necessity documentation for therapy and wound care.
Guided documentation wizards that auto-populate medical necessity criteria based on payer rules and patient data
Net Health offers cloud-based EHR and practice management software tailored for specialty areas like wound care, orthopedics, therapy, and home health. Its medical necessity tools include documentation wizards, compliance checklists, and payer-specific templates to justify treatments and reduce denials. The platform integrates clinical documentation with billing to ensure regulatory adherence and streamline reimbursement processes.
Pros
- Specialized templates for therapy and post-acute care compliance
- Seamless integration of documentation with billing and analytics
- Mobile accessibility for field clinicians
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-specialty users
- Pricing geared toward larger practices
- Limited customization without add-ons
Best For
Mid-to-large therapy, wound care, or home health providers focused on compliance-heavy documentation.
Pricing
Subscription-based; custom quotes starting around $300/user/month for core EHR with medical necessity modules, plus implementation fees.
WebPT
specializedStreamlines physical therapy workflows with medical necessity justification tools and compliance reporting.
Defensible Documentation™ system with guided templates and compliance checks to automatically flag incomplete medical necessity elements in notes
WebPT is a comprehensive cloud-based EHR and practice management platform tailored for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology practices. It excels in streamlining clinical documentation, including SOAP notes, plans of care, and progress reports, to support medical necessity for billing and compliance with payers like Medicare. The software integrates outcomes tracking, automated billing rules, and audit tools to ensure defensible documentation that justifies skilled therapy services.
Pros
- Robust therapy-specific documentation templates that emphasize medical necessity and compliance
- Seamless integration with billing and MIPS reporting for streamlined reimbursement
- Extensive outcomes data collection to support evidence-based justification of care
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users due to extensive features
- Higher pricing may strain small practices
- Limited flexibility in customizing certain compliance workflows
Best For
Mid-sized rehabilitation therapy clinics needing an all-in-one EHR with strong medical necessity documentation for payer audits and billing.
Pricing
Starts at $125-$199 per provider per month (billed annually), plus one-time implementation fees and add-ons for advanced features; custom quotes required.
athenaOne
enterpriseCloud-based EHR and practice management with integrated medical necessity checks for billing and claims.
AI-driven Revenue Cycle Intelligence that proactively validates documentation against medical necessity criteria
athenaOne by athenahealth is a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) and revenue cycle management platform that supports medical necessity documentation through integrated clinical templates, coding intelligence, and compliance checks. It automates aspects of justifying services for reimbursement by linking patient data, diagnoses, and procedures to payer requirements. While not a standalone medical necessity tool, its embedded features help reduce denials and audits in ambulatory settings.
Pros
- Seamless integration with full EHR and billing for holistic medical necessity support
- AI-powered coding suggestions and documentation prompts to ensure compliance
- Robust audit trails and denial management tools
Cons
- High cost relative to specialized medical necessity software
- Steep learning curve for non-EHR users
- Limited flexibility for custom medical necessity workflows
Best For
Mid-sized ambulatory practices needing an all-in-one EHR with built-in medical necessity and revenue cycle tools.
Pricing
Custom subscription pricing starting at ~$300/provider/month, scaling with practice size and modules.
Conclusion
Evaluating medical necessity software reveals three standout tools, with MCG Health leading due to its evidence-based clinical guidelines and comprehensive decision support. InterQual follows, offering standardized criteria that streamline utilization management, while MDI Achieve excels in automating documentation and compliance for post-acute care. Together, they represent the pinnacle of accuracy and efficiency in the field.
To optimize your medical necessity processes and reduce denials, MCG Health is the top choice—start leveraging its robust features to enhance care planning and operational success.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
