Valer co-founder and CEO Dr. Steve Kim begins practicing pediatric surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). He continues to see the same headaches of manual prior authorization and referral workflow that he’d seen years prior.

Armed with his master’s degree in data informatics, Steve sets out to design something he can use to speed and simplify prior authorization and referral management with automation. He partners with Marty Staszak, a friend and experienced corporate leader in telecommunications and networking technology, to design a software application that addresses manual prior authorization workflow challenges.

Steve realizes he can do good for more than just his own patients by creating a software company that enables its clients to automate prior authorization and referral management. Steve and Marty create Voluware to speed and simplify prior authorization and help patients get the care they need and deserve.

Voluware’s first working prototype is launched. Marty and Steve continue to refine Valer to meet the needs of providers, staff, IT personnel, and financial managers.

To support its growing client base of hospitals, health systems, and physician practices, Voluware hires over a dozen software engineers to build and continuously maintain payer portal integration with Voluware’s Valer solution.

Voluware adds USC Keck, Kern Medical, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Golden Valley Health Centers, Covenant Physician Partners, and dozens of other thought leaders to its growing client base.

After a thorough search for the right financial partner, Voluware selects Hughes & Co. as its first private equity investor. Hughes & Co. team brings with them combined hundreds of years of healthcare revenue cycle management experience. Voluware adds Phil Dolan, an experienced healthcare technology executive who also understands revenue cycle challenges, as Chief Growth Officer to lead marketing, sales, and business development.