Cúram Software is an enterprise software suite specifically designed to manage social enterprise programs for government agencies and health and human services organizations. It provides a comprehensive platform for the administration and delivery of social welfare, healthcare, and social security benefits and services. The name "Cúram" is an Irish word meaning "care" or "welfare."
History The company Cúram Software was founded in 1990 in Dublin, Ireland. It quickly specialized in developing dedicated software solutions for public sector social programs. Over two decades, it grew to become a leading global provider in this niche market. In July 2011, IBM announced its acquisition of Cúram Software. Following the acquisition, Cúram's offerings were integrated into IBM's Smarter Cities portfolio and later became a key component of IBM Watson Health's offerings, focusing on government and social program solutions.
Purpose and Functionality Cúram Software is utilized by government entities and other organizations worldwide to streamline the administration of complex social programs. Its core purpose is to help these organizations manage the entire lifecycle of citizen engagement, from initial application and eligibility determination to ongoing service delivery, benefit payment, and case closure.
The software addresses critical challenges faced by social service agencies, including:
- Eligibility and Entitlement: Automating the determination of eligibility for various programs and accurately calculating benefits based on complex rules and regulations.
- Case Management: Providing a holistic, 360-degree view of individual citizens or families, managing their interactions, services, and progress across multiple programs.
- Citizen Self-Service: Enabling citizens to apply for benefits, report changes, access their case information, and communicate with agencies online, reducing administrative burden.
- Program Integrity: Helping to prevent fraud, detect errors, and ensure compliance with program rules and legislative requirements.
- Integrated Services: Supporting the coordination and delivery of services across multiple programs, departments, or partner agencies to provide more comprehensive support.
Key Modules and Features The Cúram suite typically includes a range of integrated modules and features, which can be configured to meet specific program requirements of different jurisdictions and agencies:
- Cúram Universal Access: Provides an online portal for citizens to apply for services, manage their accounts, and communicate with agencies securely.
- Cúram Case Management: A central system for managing client information, interactions, services, and outcomes across various social and health programs.
- Cúram Eligibility and Entitlement: Contains powerful rules engines for automated, evidence-based determination of eligibility for benefits and services, and the calculation of benefit amounts.
- Cúram Appeals: Manages the administrative process for appeals and grievances related to benefit and service decisions.
- Cúram Provider Management: Supports the management of external service providers, including their credentials, contracts, service delivery, and payment processing.
- Cúram Financials: Handles the financial aspects of benefit payments, invoices, recoveries, and financial reconciliation for programs.
- Cúram Business Intelligence and Reporting: Offers analytics and reporting capabilities to monitor program performance, identify trends, and inform policy and operational decision-making.
The platform is known for its configurability, allowing agencies to adapt it to their specific legislative requirements and operational workflows without requiring extensive custom coding.