SAN FRANCISCO, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- For hospital and medical group administrators, the phrase "time is money" could not be more accurate. Every minute spent on the phone with health plan personnel is time that could be devoted to patient care or some other vital activity. Healthcare providers in Blue Shield of California's statewide network are now seeing real reductions in the time and cost involved in health plan administration through Blue Shield's recently launched Provider Connection service.
Provider Connection is an advanced set of online tools for healthcare providers. Access is available through Blue Shield's website, http://www.mylifepath.com/. The tools were designed to help reduce the time spent tracking and verifying member information by telephone or other traditional channels. With this new enhanced system, providers have immediate online access to updated, accurate information on member eligibility, benefits and claims.
Provider Connection also allows providers to run multiple inquiries simultaneously; download an updated member roster for an independent physician's association, medical group or primary care physician; and organize information easily using a quick-view feature and printable reports.
The new capabilities provide access to current and historical data on member eligibility and benefits coverage; verification and description of covered benefits; prior authorization requirements, limitations or exclusions; and dependent information. The system also can track claims payment status and a member's account activity, including deductible payments and out-of-pocket limits.
"These new tools focus on improving the ease, speed and accuracy of several administrative processes vital to Blue Shield's business relationship with providers," says David Joyner, senior vice president of Network Management, Blue Shield of California. "Providers who run inquiries through Provider Connection can save money by eliminating the phone and fax to get their questions answered."
Blue Shield introduced these tools to select members of the provider community in a three-month pilot program in 2004. Hill Physicians Medical Group of San Ramon, Calif., with 2,600 medical professionals in five locations serving more than 100,000 Blue Shield of California members, was one of the initial participants in the program.
"We have realized quantifiable benefits by using Provider Connection," says Dan Robinson, vice president of Corporate Services for Hill Physicians Medical Group. "We appreciate the fact that using Blue Shield's Web-based, up-to-date information has improved our productivity and, hence, our service levels. The time and money we can save by using tools such as those available through Provider Connection enable Hill to devote more resources to those who matter most, our customers."
The tools are now available to all providers in Blue Shield's network and to billing services that are qualified to access private Blue Shield member information.
Founded in 1939, Blue Shield of California is one of the state's leading healthcare companies. Headquartered in San Francisco, the not-for-profit corporation has more than 3.2 million members, 4,300 employees and more than 20 office locations throughout California. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.mylifepath.com/.
Contact: Elise Anderson Media Relations Manager (310) 568-2866 elise.anderson@blueshieldca.com
Blue Shield of CaliforniaCONTACT: Elise Anderson, Media Relations Manager of Blue Shield ofCalifornia, +1-310-568-2866, elise.anderson@blueshieldca.com
Web site: http://www.mylifepath.com/