PARO Decision Support
PARO Decision Support, acquired by Waystar in 2019, specializes in predictive analytics for healthcare financial assistance.
Profile
Automates charity care screening for hospitals using predictive analytics.
PARO Decision Support, acquired by Waystar in 2019, specializes in predictive analytics for healthcare financial assistance. Originally developed to automate charity care screening for nonprofit hospitals, PARO's technology uses public-record data—not credit scores—to identify patients eligible for financial aid, helping hospitals reduce bad debt and comply with community benefit requirements. In 2018, PARO screened nearly 11 million patient visits, reclassifying 30% of potential bad debt as charitable care.
Post-acquisition, PARO operates as part of Waystar's revenue cycle management platform, focusing on integrating its charity scoring solution into broader healthcare financial workflows. The company's approach avoids credit checks, which can alienate patients, and instead relies on public data to assess financial need. Recent industry trends show hospitals increasingly adopting automation tools like PARO to offset rising operational costs, though the broader tech sector faces layoffs as companies reallocate budgets toward AI investments. PARO's legacy as an early mover in presumptive charity analytics gives it a niche position, but its future depends on Waystar's ability to scale the technology across its client base.
Who buys this
- Nonprofit hospitals needing to demonstrate community benefit compliance
- Health systems aiming to reduce bad debt write-offs
- Revenue cycle management teams streamlining financial assistance workflows
- Hospitals serving high volumes of low-income patients
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- Pioneered public-record-based charity scoring, avoiding credit checks that frustrate patients
- Proven scale: processed 11M patient visits in 2018 with 30% reclassification rate
- Deep integration with Waystar's revenue cycle platform since 2019 acquisition
Watch for
- Dependence on Waystar's roadmap post-acquisition; product could stagnate without R&D
- Regulatory risk if public data sources face privacy restrictions
- Competition from newer AI-driven charity screening tools emerging in healthcare
Key Information
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PARO Decision Support?
PARO automates charity care screening for hospitals using predictive analytics. Acquired by Waystar in 2019, it analyzes public-record data—not credit scores—to identify patients eligible for financial aid. In 2018, PARO screened 11 million visits, reclassifying 30% as charitable care while helping hospitals comply with community benefit requirements.
How does PARO's charity screening work without credit checks?
PARO uses public-record data like property ownership and household composition to assess financial need. This avoids credit checks that may alienate patients. The system automatically flags eligibility during registration, reducing manual reviews. In 2018, this approach reclassified 30% of potential bad debt as charity care.
Why did Waystar acquire PARO Decision Support?
Waystar integrated PARO's charity scoring into its revenue cycle platform in 2019. The acquisition added predictive analytics for financial assistance, helping hospitals reduce bad debt. PARO's 2018 performance—processing 11 million visits—demonstrated scalable automation for community benefit compliance.
What types of hospitals use PARO's technology?
Nonprofit hospitals needing community benefit compliance use PARO most. Health systems targeting bad debt reduction and facilities serving low-income populations also benefit. The solution integrates with revenue cycle workflows, helping staff automate financial assistance screening without credit checks.
How accurate is PARO's charity eligibility prediction?
In 2018, PARO's screening of 11 million patient visits reclassified 30% as charity care—demonstrating significant impact on bad debt reduction. The public-record method avoids credit score inaccuracies but depends on updated government data sources for optimal performance.
Is PARO still available after the Waystar acquisition?
Yes, PARO operates as part of Waystar's revenue cycle platform post-2019 acquisition. Its charity scoring solution remains focused on hospitals, now integrated with Waystar's broader financial workflows. Future development depends on Waystar's roadmap for healthcare analytics tools.
Sources
- www.prnewswire.com — 2019 acquisition terms and product functionality
- www.waystar.com — Waystar's post-acquisition positioning of PARO
- www.paroscore.com — Current product branding under Waystar
- finance.yahoo.com — Industry context on tech/AI-driven layoffs affecting adjacent sectors