Blue Shield of California is participating in a pilot program in the Sacramento, Calif., area that aims to provide an improved claims payment process for physicians and members.
The Oakland, Calif.-based insurer, which has 4 million members statewide, said in an Oct. 23 news release that the pilot is in collaboration with San Francisco-based Dignity Health and Ooda Health, a startup company with offices in San Francisco and Salt Lake City.
With Ooda's technology assistance and Dignity's physician network, Blue Shield of California said it seeks to create a medical claims payment system that is improved, faster and more real-time.
"Lengthy claims processes and excessive paperwork have long been a pain point for insurance plans, our members, and physicians," said Jeff Semenchuk, chief innovation officer of Blue Shield of California. "The first claim has already been successfully processed and members have been engaged with their consolidated bills."
Blue Shield of California said members and physicians will use a new, fully digital payment system during the year-long pilot. This system will provide members with consolidated bills as well as less time between the date of their care and the bill, according to the insurer. They will also be able to choose whether to pay their medical debt immediately or in installments.
Blue Shield of California said the pilot is also designed to help physicians collect more payments from patients at the time of service and reduce the collections process for them.
Read more about the pilot program here.