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Healthcare provider Blue Shield of California has expanded a statewide program that is intended to facilitate patient payments in these difficult times due to the pandemic.
In a statement, the organization said that the pilot program “Member Payments” was launched in 2019 in collaboration with CommonSpirit Health and OODA Health at two Dignity Health hospitals in Sacramento . By the end of that year it was expanded to six hospitals.
This week’s announcement, as California is in a tough battle to curb COVID cases – 19, indicates that other 20 Dignity Health hospitals already have the program, which serves to offer payment facilities and greater transparency in billing.
“We are using the latest advances in technology and innovation to create a system healthcare that puts people first, ”said Shayna Schulz, senior vice president of transformation and operations at Blue Shield of California. “This is our mission as a non-profit health plan; create a health system that is worthy of our family and friends ; in addition to being sustainably economical. ”
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Blue Shield of California explained that the payment program consists of beneficiaries receiving a simple consolidated monthly medical bill . The patient can choose between paying the bill in full or in installments without interest through their flexible spending account card , credit card, check, or ACH direct deposit.
Additionally, participating medical providers receive assistance in managing the financial responsibility owed to Blue Shield beneficiaries and facilitating documentation.
Blue Shield said that the program is the first step towards real-time claims settlement that will make billing and medical payments more immediate and simple as part of the Health Reimagined initiative.
