Final answer:
A clearinghouse in healthcare acts as an intermediary between insurances and providers to submit electronic claims. They also promote interoperability by collecting patient data for emergency situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
A clearinghouse in the context of healthcare is an entity that acts as an intermediary between insurances and healthcare providers to submit electronic claims.
They play a crucial role in promoting interoperability by collecting and storing patient data in a centralized location, which can be accessed in emergency situations.
Clearinghouses do not distribute payments to providers; that is typically handled by third-party payers.