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Uniform Medical Plan Now Live!
Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) --a state-funded, employer-sponsored health care plan administered by the Washington Health Care Authority-- is now online with OneHealthPort!
As a subscriber to OneHealthPort, you can immediately manage the following information:
- Eligibility: Information on effective dates and basic demographics for UMP enrollees.
- Claims: UMP PPO and UMP Neighborhood claims status inquiry.
- Secure e-mail: Ability to exchange messages containing confidential information with our claims administrator.
- Benefits: Basic information on UMP PPO and UMP Neighborhood benefits.
- References and Forms: Information on billing, Neighborhood Pass, I.D. cards, and filing claims electronically.
- Search capability: Ability to search provider directory and preferred drug lists.
The UMP site offers providers information about members enrolled in the Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) as well as the plan's pilot product, UMP Neighborhood. For more information, go to www.ump.hca.wa.gov/provider/ or call UMP Provider Services at 1-800-292-8092.
Win Great Prizes! Take OneHealthPort's Online Survey
OneHealthPort wants your opinion! Our goal is to make it easy and efficient for you to access participating websites. Please take a few minutes to take this online survey and we'll enter your name in a raffle to win one of these great prizes: Apple iPod mini; $50 gift certificate from Amazon.com; $25 Nordstrom gift certificate.
Go to www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2N4YD5S33. To be eligible for the raffle, surveys must be submitted by August 31, 2004. Thanks for your help!
OneHealthPort Offers FREE Online Training Webcasts
Thanks to all of you who attended OneHealthPort's pilot webcasts. The response was terrific, with over 90% of participants indicating they would attend future webcasts. Don't miss the next series of webcasts, designed to help you get the most from OneHealthPort and OneHealthPort's participating sites.
It's easy to participate—all you need is a computer with an Internet browser and a telephone line. OneHealthPort will give you a toll-free number, a website address and a password to enter the webcast. These are "live" events, so you can ask questions of the presenters. Register now for these FREE, one-hour seminars:
How to Navigate Online Eligibility Applications
Wednesday, July 28 noon
In this unique overview, staff from Regence BlueShield, Group Health Cooperative, Premera Blue Cross, First Choice Health and Uniform Medical Plan will explain how to easily navigate their site's online eligibility applications. Join us for this webcast to streamline your eligibility searches, learn navigation tips and improve workflow.
How to Streamline Claims Status Inquiries
New Webcast!!!
Wednesday, August 11 noon
Wednesday, August 25 noon
Presenters from Regence BlueShield, Group Health Cooperative, Premera Blue Cross, First Choice Health and Uniform Medical Plan will walk you through their claims applications. You'll learn about shortcuts to eliminate duplications and get tips on how to speed up payment.
Space at each webcast is limited. Register today at www.onehealthport.com/about/regform.html.
Registration for each webcast is limited to one per provider office or organization. But please feel free to invite a group of people to watch together at one computer--all you need is a speakerphone and, if possible, a projector.
Join OneHealthPort's Web Site Advisory Panel
Just as participating sites constantly upgrade their features, OneHealthPort is now redesigning our web site to make your jobs easier. We're looking for people who would like to serve on a website advisory panel and participate in focus groups.
If you'd like to be invited to a focus group or have specific ideas about OneHealthPort's website, please contact us at info@onehealthport.com. Include your name, organization and telephone number. We look forward to hearing from you!
Regence BlueShield Adds Online Service Enhancements
Make your job easier by taking advantage of these new enhancements from Regence Online Service (ROS):
- Claims detail--Now includes line by line Regence BlueShield message codes (same as those that appear on your payment vouchers) in addition to the existing HIPAA Category Status codes.
- Interim benefit display--The "benefit summary" screens have been reformatted and restructured.
- Referral list reduction--Currently displays all provider types in an organization when originating a referral. The list has been reduced to just PCPs and PCP type providers.
These same enhancements are also available for Asuris Northwest Health. Go to www.wa.regence.com/provider for information on Regence Online Services. Go to www.asurisnorthwesthealth.com/provider for information on the Asuris Online Services.
Group Health Cooperative Announces Future Enhancements
The majority of Group Health's contracted providers are now using MyGroupHealth for Contracted Providers for online eligibility, claims, and referral information. Later this year, eligibility inquiry will include a link from subscriber eligibility information to a list of the dependents on the plan. In addition, benefits information will expand to include:
- Medicare lock-in, primary or secondary status
- Differential co-pays for office visits and tiered pharmacy benefits, when applicable
- Demographic and last active date information for members whose coverage is no longer active for the date requested
- Outpatient co-pays
Another enhancement will link member eligibility information to referrals and claims status, allowing providers to request a referral immediately.
Future changes to referral request information will:
- Allow specialists to submit procedure notifications via the Web
- Better accommodate durable medical equipment referral requests
- Enhance the refer-to provider search capability
Improvements to the referral status detail page will include:
- Co-pay and coinsurance information for the service requested
- The referred-to practitioner's name
- A link to request an additional referral for the member
Early in 2005, line item detail will be added for claims, including the denial reason on the Claims Status Inquiry application.
Premera Blue Cross Offers Vision Coverage Online
Premera Blue Cross reports a high volume of calls from vision providers inquiring about vision benefits. Vision providers can access vision benefits on the web site for Premera Dimensions™ members by going to www.premera.com and then clicking "Providers" on the right-hand side of the visitor page. This will take you to the Provider portal. From there, go to the "Tools" section and click "Eligibility & Benefits." If you need additional assistance, contact Premera's Customer Service department at the telephone number listed on the back of the member's I.D. card. The majority of Premera Blue Cross' commercial membership is now on Premera Dimensions.
"Accelerator Toolkit" Simplifies Administrator Tasks
What if your medical office could significantly reduce the number hours dedicated to handling administrative tasks? The Washington Healthcare Forum—in conjunction with health plans, physicians, hospitals and purchasers—has developed a series of 22 Administrative Simplification Policies and Guidelines designed to help you:
- Reduce time to refer, authorize, bill and process claims
- Decrease turnaround time between claims submissions and payment
- Improve the patient experience
Find out how to implement these steps by going to the Accelerator "Tool Kit" Checklist at www.wahealthcareforum.org/Accelerator/checklist.asp. Your office could save up to 27.5 staff hours a week!
The "Accelerator Toolkit" was introduced this spring during the 2004 Administrator Simplification Workshops. With 820 attendees—a 30% increase from last year—the seven workshops features 20 presenters representing 12 organizations. The workshops will be presented again next year.
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