Athenahealth

What is athenahealth

athenahealth is a cloud-based healthcare software company that provides an integrated suite of clinical, administrative, and financial applications for ambulatory care and specialty practices. The platform is designed to reduce the operational burden on providers by combining an electronic health record (EHR), practice management (PM), revenue cycle management (RCM), patient engagement tools, and population health capabilities into a single, cloud-hosted service. athenahealth emphasizes continuous updates delivered from a centrally managed cloud service model rather than on-premises software upgrades.

The company positions its offering for independent practices, large medical groups, and health systems that require scalable software to manage scheduling, charting, billing, claims, and reporting. Its product lineup is often sold as modular services — practices can choose to implement only clinical software, only RCM, or a combined set that athenahealth calls athenaOne. Because the platform is cloud-first, customers receive system-wide updates, security patches, and access to shared best practices and analytics derived from the athenahealth network of provider customers.

athenahealth also operates a developer ecosystem and marketplace that enables third-party integrations, specialty extensions, and custom workflows. That ecosystem supports interoperability standards used in healthcare, enabling connections with labs, imaging vendors, payer portals, and telehealth platforms. The company supports compliance with healthcare security and privacy standards appropriate for cloud-based EHR vendors, and it offers contractual and technical controls necessary for regulated environments.

Athenahealth features

What does athenahealth do?

athenahealth provides a set of coordinated features designed to support clinical documentation, patient access, practice operations, and revenue optimization. Core capabilities include EHR charting templates for ambulatory specialties, appointment scheduling with patient reminders, claims processing and denial management, account receivable workflows, and patient portal access for messaging and telehealth.

The platform supports clinical decision support and quality measure tracking, helping practices meet regulatory requirements such as Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting and other value-based care programs. In addition to outpatient EHR functionality, athenahealth offers tools for population health management, care gap closures, and analytic dashboards that surface operational metrics, payer performance, and clinical quality indicators.

Beyond those core workflows, athenahealth includes patient-facing capabilities such as online scheduling, automated appointment reminders, secure messaging, and telehealth visits. Administrative features include eligibility verification, automated claims scrubbing, payer enrollment assistance, configurable billing rules, and an appeals/denial workflow to accelerate collections.

The platform also provides APIs and integration frameworks (see the API section) so organizations can extend the system with third-party scheduling tools, practice-specific templates, billing partners, lab interfaces, or data warehouses. The athenahealth marketplace and professional services teams support implementation, optimization, and ongoing training.

Athenahealth pricing

Athenahealth offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: Not available — athenahealth does not offer a free consumer-grade tier for its core EHR and RCM services
• Starter: $140/month per provider (typical lower-end subscription for basic ambulatory EHR and PM modules; implementation fees and onboarding billed separately)
• Professional: $250/month per provider (includes expanded clinical modules, patient engagement tools, and basic analytics; may include partial RCM services)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing — enterprise customers receive tailored contracts that often combine full-service RCM, population health, and integrations

Implementation, onboarding, training, and data migration are commonly quoted separately and can add several thousand dollars up front depending on practice size and complexity. For practices selecting full-service revenue cycle management, contracts will often include a percentage-based RCM fee model (a portion of collections) or blended pricing that mixes subscription and transactional fees — for example, RCM fees commonly range from 6% to 10% of collected revenue depending on scope and payer mix.

Check athenahealth's athenaOne and solutions pricing pages for the most up-to-date contractual options and to request a tailored quote using their online contact forms: view athenahealth's solutions and pricing information.

How much is athenahealth per month

Athenahealth starts at approximately $140/month per provider for lower-tier ambulatory subscriptions when a practice purchases the EHR and practice management modules only. That baseline figure represents typical entry-level subscription pricing observed in the ambulatory EHR market and may vary by contract, region, specialty, and included services.

Monthly invoices typically include the software subscription, user licenses, and any recurring support or hosting fees. If a practice chooses full-service revenue cycle management, the monthly invoicing model is often replaced or augmented by percentage-based collections billing rather than a simple per-provider monthly fee.

Large organizations purchasing enterprise services may negotiate blended monthly or quarterly invoices that cover both software and outsourced administrative services; those arrangements will typically appear on a multi-year contract rather than a simple month-to-month subscription.

How much is athenahealth per year

Athenahealth costs approximately $1,680/year per provider for an entry-level subscription if you multiply the illustrative $140/month per provider figure by twelve months. This simple annualized number does not include one-time implementation fees, training, data migration, or third-party integration costs, which can significantly increase first-year expenses.

For practices that adopt full-service revenue cycle management, annual costs are best measured as a percentage of collections rather than a flat yearly subscription. Enterprise customers often amortize implementation over multi-year terms and receive volume discounts or custom invoicing arrangements.

To obtain precise yearly cost projections based on your patient volume, payer mix, and service choices, request a tailored estimate from athenahealth via their contact forms and sales team on the athenahealth solutions and pricing information pages.

How much is athenahealth in general

Athenahealth pricing ranges from $140 to $250+/month per provider. The lower end reflects minimal EHR and PM subscriptions; the higher end reflects broader clinical functionality, patient engagement features, and add-on services. Full-service revenue cycle management shifts the pricing model toward percentage-of-collections arrangements, which can be more or less expensive depending on a practice’s current revenue efficiency.

Total cost of ownership should include implementation, ongoing support, third-party integrations, interface development (for labs and imaging), and any hardware or connectivity upgrades required for secure, reliable cloud access. Practices should budget for training and change management as well as contingency for transition-related productivity dips.

Check athenahealth's enterprise solutions and contract options to compare specific modules and request a custom pricing proposal.

What is athenahealth used for

athenahealth is used to manage the full outpatient practice lifecycle: scheduling patients, documenting clinical encounters, sending prescriptions electronically, submitting claims, and collecting payments. Clinicians use the EHR every day for charting, order entry, and decision support, while administrative staff use the practice management tools for scheduling, payer verification, and billing.

Medical groups rely on athenahealth to centralize patient demographics, medication histories, and lab/imaging results in a single chart. The platform supports multi-specialty workflows, allowing practices in primary care, family medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, behavioral health, and many specialties to customize templates and order sets.

Operationally, athenahealth is used to reduce days in accounts receivable through automated claim scrubbing, real-time eligibility checks, and denial management. Its RCM services are marketed to practices that prefer outsourcing billing complexity to a dedicated team that handles payer follow-up, appeals, and collections.

Athenahealth is also used for patient engagement via online scheduling, secure messaging, telehealth visits, and automated reminders, improving access and reducing no-shows. For organizations managing population health or value-based contracts, athenahealth provides quality measure tracking, gap closure workflows, and reporting tools to monitor performance against benchmarks.

Pros and cons of athenahealth

Pros:

• athenahealth's cloud-native architecture eliminates the need for on-premises servers, centralized upgrades, and a single source of product updates shared across the customer base. This typically reduces IT maintenance burden and ensures timely application of security patches.
• The platform combines clinical, administrative, and RCM services in an integrated suite, which simplifies data flow between charting and billing and can reduce errors and rework.
• A large customer network provides access to shared benchmarking, payer performance insights, and marketplace integrations, enabling organizations to leverage best practices and third-party tools.

Cons:

• Pricing is typically contract-based and can be higher than low-cost or open-source EHRs once implementation and ongoing services are included, especially for smaller practices with tight budgets.
• Customization options are available but are governed by the central cloud model; some practices that require highly specialized workflows or offline capabilities may find limitations compared with on-premises/custom solutions.
• Moving to a cloud-first vendor requires reliable internet connectivity and clear data migration plans; practices with constrained connectivity or legacy systems may face transition challenges.

Operational trade-offs should be evaluated in the context of practice size, specialty complexity, payer mix, and the need for outsourced billing versus in-house management. A careful ROI analysis that includes productivity, collection lift, and staffing changes is recommended prior to contracting.

Athenahealth free trial

athenahealth does not commonly provide self-serve free trials for its full EHR and revenue cycle products because the software is deployed as a contracted service with onboarding, training, and data migration. Most customers go through a structured sales and implementation process that includes demonstrations, sandbox access, and pilot workflows rather than an open free trial.

Prospective customers can request product demonstrations and sandbox previews where the vendor configures specialty-specific templates and showcases workflows tailored to the practice. These guided demonstrations and limited access trial environments can help evaluate clinical usability, scheduler flows, and reporting capabilities before signing a contract.

For software evaluation, athenahealth sales and implementation teams will typically provide references, case studies, and guided sessions; organizations should request access to a sandbox instance and example workflows that match their specialty to validate fit prior to purchase.

Is athenahealth free

No, athenahealth is not free. athenahealth is a commercial software and services platform that requires a subscription or a contractual agreement, and implementation typically incurs one-time setup and training fees. Practices should plan for both recurring subscription fees and potential percentage-based revenue cycle charges when budgeting for the platform.

Athenahealth API

athenahealth provides an API framework aimed at enabling interoperability, custom integrations, and third-party app development. The platform offers RESTful APIs that support common healthcare data standards, including HL7 and FHIR mappings, for exchanging patient demographics, clinical notes, medication data, appointments, and claims data. Developers can register for API access and explore documentation on the athenahealth developer portal to build integrations that connect scheduling systems, telehealth solutions, and analytics tools.

Typical API use cases include automated appointment posting from third-party booking systems, extracting clinical data for a population health data warehouse, integrating third-party telemedicine vendors, and building custom dashboards that combine clinical and financial KPIs. The APIs support secure authentication methods, scoped access tokens, and audit logging consistent with healthcare data protection requirements.

The athenahealth marketplace lists verified partner integrations and vendor-built extensions; developers and IT teams should consult the athenahealth developer portal and API documentation for current endpoints, sandbox access, rate limits, and certification processes. For enterprise projects, athenahealth offers professional services to assist with API-based integrations and custom interface development.

10 Athenahealth alternatives

• Epic — Large health system EHR with deep inpatient and outpatient functionality, extensively used by hospitals and integrated delivery networks; strong analytics and customization for enterprise deployments.
• Cerner — Comprehensive EHR and health information technology platform with strong hospital-focused capabilities, interoperability tools, and population health modules.
• Allscripts — Ambulatory and acute care EHR and PM solutions with both cloud and on-premises options; offers practice management and revenue cycle modules.
• eClinicalWorks — Cloud-based ambulatory EHR and practice management suite popular with small to mid-sized practices; offers population health and telehealth tools.
• NextGen Healthcare — Ambulatory EHR and PM focused on specialty practices with configurable templates and revenue cycle services.
• Practice Fusion — Cloud EHR targeted at smaller practices with simpler workflows (note: availability and platform ownership can change over time).
• Greenway Health — EHR and PM suite focused on ambulatory practices with integrated revenue cycle tools and reporting.
• Kareo — Practice management and billing-focused solution tailored to smaller practices wanting outsourced RCM and simplified workflows.
• athenaOne — (Related suite by athenahealth) Integrated set of athenahealth services bundled for practices wanting combined EHR, PM, and RCM — included here to highlight athenahealth’s own product packaging options.
• AdvancedMD — Cloud EHR and practice management platform with telehealth and integrated billing services for independent practices and small groups.

Paid alternatives to Athenahealth

• Epic: Enterprise-grade EHR for large hospitals and health systems; high initial investment and strong inpatient-outpatient integration.
• Cerner: Broad healthcare IT portfolio covering acute care, ambulatory, and population health with enterprise implementation services.
• Allscripts: Multi-product vendor with ambulatory and acute solutions; flexible deployment and RCM offerings.
• eClinicalWorks: Subscription-based ambulatory EHR with population health extensions and integrated patient engagement.
• NextGen Healthcare: Specialty-aware EHR and PM with practice analytics and configurable templates.

Open source alternatives to Athenahealth

• OpenEMR: Mature open source EHR and practice management system with charting, scheduling, billing modules, and a community of implementers. Suitable for organizations with internal IT resources that can support hosting and compliance.
• OpenMRS: Platform geared primarily toward global health and public health settings; highly extensible and often used in resource-constrained environments.
• GNU Health: Open source health and hospital information system focused on public health, with modules for clinical records and hospital administration.
• Oscar EMR: Open source ambulatory EHR used in some regions with customization and community support available.
• Mirth Connect (as integration engine): While not an EHR, Mirth Connect is an open source integration engine commonly used to connect open-source EHRs and commercial systems via HL7 and other standards.

Frequently asked questions about Athenahealth

What is athenahealth used for?

Athenahealth is used for ambulatory EHR, practice management, and revenue cycle management. Practices use athenahealth to document clinical encounters, manage appointments, process claims, and handle patient communications across a cloud-hosted platform. It is commonly chosen by medical groups and health systems that want an integrated, outsourced approach to billing and operations.

Does athenahealth integrate with third-party telehealth platforms?

Yes, athenahealth supports integrations with telehealth vendors. The platform provides APIs and marketplace connectors that enable secure scheduling and video visit workflows to be integrated into the patient chart and appointment schedule. Many customers implement telehealth through athenahealth-verified partners listed on the athenahealth marketplace.

How much does athenahealth cost per provider per month?

Athenahealth starts at approximately $140/month per provider for entry-level ambulatory subscriptions when only EHR and PM are purchased. Full-service revenue cycle arrangements or enterprise bundles will change the per-provider economics and are quoted on a case-by-case basis.

Is there a free version of athenahealth?

No, athenahealth does not offer a free plan. Commercial licensing and service contracts are required to use the core EHR, practice management, and RCM services; prospective customers typically evaluate the product through demos and sandbox access rather than a free trial.

Can athenahealth help with billing and denials?

Yes, athenahealth provides revenue cycle management and denial management services. The company offers both software-based billing tools and optional outsourced RCM where a managed team handles claims submission, payer follow-up, and appeals with the goal of reducing days in A/R and improving collections.

What interoperability standards does athenahealth support?

Athenahealth supports FHIR and HL7-based interfaces. The platform exposes RESTful APIs for clinical and administrative data, supports standard messaging for labs and imaging, and participates in national interoperability initiatives. Developers can consult athenahealth's developer documentation for specific endpoints and capabilities.

Does athenahealth offer patient portal and online scheduling?

Yes, athenahealth includes patient-facing tools for online scheduling, secure messaging, and telehealth. Patients can request appointments, receive automated reminders, view parts of the chart, and conduct virtual visits depending on the modules implemented by the practice.

How secure is athenahealth?

Athenahealth implements standard healthcare security and privacy controls. As a cloud-hosted vendor, it uses encrypted communications, access controls, audit logging, and compliance-oriented contracts to meet HIPAA requirements; enterprise customers should review athenahealth's security documentation and SOC reports during procurement.

Can athenahealth be customized for specialty workflows?

Yes, athenahealth supports specialty-specific templates and configurable workflows. The platform offers customizable charting templates, order sets, and visit flows for a wide range of specialties; for deep customizations, the athenahealth implementation team or certified partners can adapt templates and map specialty requirements.

What training and support does athenahealth provide?

Athenahealth provides implementation support, training, and ongoing customer service. New customers receive onboarding, configuration assistance, and access to training resources; paid support tiers and dedicated customer success teams are typically part of enterprise contracts to help optimize workflows.

athenahealth careers

athenahealth hires across product development, clinical informatics, customer success, sales, and professional services roles to support its software and managed services. Careers at athenahealth commonly include positions for software engineers, implementation specialists, RCM analysts, and healthcare informaticists who help translate clinical workflows into usable software.

Potential applicants should look for roles that combine healthcare domain knowledge with technical skills, such as EHR optimization consultants or API developers. The company often recruits people who have prior experience in ambulatory practice operations, billing, or clinical documentation to fill implementation and support roles.

When evaluating job opportunities, candidates should review athenahealth's public careers site for current openings, hiring practices, and information about employee benefits and development programs. Networking with current or former employees and reading recent employee reviews can help gauge team culture and role expectations.

athenahealth affiliate

athenahealth partners with a range of reseller and implementation partners, as well as technology partners that build integrations and marketplace apps. Affiliate or partner programs may exist for consultants and vendors that resell or implement athenahealth solutions, but details and qualification criteria are handled through the vendor's partner relations team.

If you are an organization interested in partnering, reach out through athenahealth's partner pages to inquire about certification requirements, technical onboarding, and revenue-sharing models. Partners typically gain access to partner training, sandbox systems, and co-marketing resources after formal onboarding.

Where to find athenahealth reviews

Vendor reviews and customer feedback for athenahealth can be found on industry review sites and in healthcare IT publications. Look for user reviews on platforms such as KLAS Research, Gartner Peer Insights, and specialty forums where clinicians and practice managers discuss EHR usability, support responsiveness, and billing outcomes.

Additionally, request customer references directly from athenahealth during the procurement process to speak with similarly sized practices or those in the same specialty. Independent case studies and peer-reviewed articles about implementations can provide additional context on operational and financial outcomes.

For the most up-to-date product details, integration guides, and pricing information, consult athenahealth's official site and the athenahealth developer portal for API documentation.