South Carolina Doctors Speak To BlueCross Over The Internet
COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina today introduced STATchat(SM), a feature on the company's Web site that allows physician offices to call BlueCross over the Internet and gives them priority for customer service.
BlueCross is one of the first in the healthcare industry to offer a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) product for customer service.
"STATchat is a revolutionary voice processing technology that enables a consistent telephone-quality voice to be delivered over the Internet," said Dr. John Little, corporate vice president of healthcare services. "Physicians who use this will get even faster service from BlueCross."
STATchat is located within the secure, self-help My Insurance Manager section of http://www.southcarolinablues.com/ or http://www.companionhealthcare.com/ . If further help is needed, physician offices can use secure e-mail called Ask Provider Services, or they can click on "STATchat" to call for assistance without dialing any numbers by using an inexpensive headset with microphone.
STATchat links them with a provider services agent, ahead of calls from provider offices using traditional phone lines. In addition, information on the physician and the BlueCross member for which they are submitting the inquiry will pre-populate the provider service agent's desktop computer before the agent takes the call.
STATchat is free and compliant with HIPAA, a federal act governing privacy and electronic transactions in healthcare.
BlueCross has privately labeled STATchat from the Click-to-Talk software product developed by CrystalVoice Communications Inc., Santa Barbara, Calif. ( http://www.crystalvoice.com/ ). Providers will also be able to purchase a headset or handset via a special BlueCross link to CrystalVoice.
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
BlueCross BlueShield of South CarolinaCONTACT: Elizabeth Hammond of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina,+1-803-264-4626, or Elizabeth.Hammond@bcbssc.com