As the healthcare industry continues to evolve with new technology and policies, health payers are improving and adapting benefits and eligibility accordingly. In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has put an even higher amount of pressure on the healthcare system in general to continue to evolve, fill the cracks that have been hiding for years and find a new path forward. Health plans are no different. During the stressful time of the pandemic, payers have been looking for new ways to update their benefits, communicate those benefits and continue down the path to a new digital era.
The estimated costs of COVID-19 treatments for private insurers range from $30.0 to $546.6 billion over a two-year period, according to a June Wakely survey. Additionally, enrollees or beneficiaries in private insurers out of pocket expenses could be between $2.8 and $48.6 billion of the costs. These are not insignificant forecasts. With the high predicted costs of this pandemic, health plans have continued to adapt and adjust their benefits to ensure Americans have access to the necessary prevention, testing and treatments.
It is essential that payers and providers have clear communication, especially during times of increased pressure. Payers need to clearly communicate the updates to their plans efficiently and effectively, and providers need to be able to understand the eligibility and benefits updates for fast and easy reimbursement. Advanced technology is the key here – allowing efficient, effective payer-provider communication and ultimately optimized patient care and outcomes, even during troubling times of a pandemic. Using the tools available, aids in quick, efficient and secure communication between the necessary stakeholders – leaving a simple, seamless and standardized interaction that evokes maximum efficiency and optimal outcomes.
One such tool is NantHealth’s NaviNet platform. NantHealth recently announced the national roll out of NaviNet AllPayer, a subscription-based platform allowing providers increased visibility into standard eligibility and benefit information for over 1,000 commercial and government health plans using a single login (a significant increase from the previous 47 sponsored health plans offered). AllPayer allows providers to check claim status for over 550 health plans, builds upon the existing multi-payer experience of NaviNet Open, increases efficiency and improves communications and collaboration with near real-time exchange of information. Especially as COVID-19 continues to extremely push the healthcare system, interoperability, fast and secure exchange of information and tight payer-provider communication and collaboration have never been so important to maintain quality care.
