Blue Cross' ProviderAccess Website Harnesses the Power of the Internet to Speed and Simplify Information Access For California Physicians and Hospitals.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2001

ProviderAccess Follows Company's Launch of Its

Revised Physician Incentive Program

Blue Cross of California (Blue Cross) today unveiled its latest program for improving the quality of its members' health care experience across the state.

Through ProviderAccess(SM), up-to-date claims status and payment information is now just a mouse-click away for Blue Cross contracting physicians and hospitals. The enhanced web resource instantly informs physician office staff about Blue Cross patient benefits and eligibility information and provides verification of payments for medical claims.

"ProviderAccess is the next natural step in reducing administrative hassles in the delivery of health care in California and follows the highly successful launch and enthusiastic reception of our revised patient satisfaction initiative," said Dr. Woodrow Myers, chief medical officer, Blue Cross. "Hospitals, physicians and other health care partners are finding that ProviderAccess is dramatically improving access to information they want and need from us."

Gentiva Health Services, the nation's leading provider of specialty pharmaceutical and home health care services, uses the system. Arleen Hasegawa, corporate accounts manager for Gentiva Health Services said, "ProviderAccess is an incredibly valuable data tool, which provides us with important, up-to-date member information and offers our organization accessibility, time saving intake data and feedback on payment status that we find essential in managing Blue Cross of California members. Our patients ultimately benefit because we can provide services more quickly as the information we need from the health plan is available to us immediately."

Blue Cross' ongoing commitment to reduce administrative burdens in the health care system is demonstrated by many of the features contained in the ProviderAccess site, which allows physicians and hospitals to more closely track claims payments and status. ProviderAccess is designed to offer valuable coverage and payment information online while lowering dependency on traditional and time-consuming phone interactions. Health professionals not only save time, eliminate paper and improve cash flow, they also view the same information that a Blue Cross provider service representative can supply over the phone.

Syndicated Office Systems, an affiliate of Tenet Health Sytems, has been using ProviderAccess for several months. "This web site is state-of-the-art in data retrieval," said Gary Miller, managed care administrator, Syndicated Office Systems. "This will revolutionize how providers like us interact with a health plan like Blue Cross of California. It serves to make both organizations more effective in serving their respective customers."

ProviderAccess is free of charge and any Blue Cross' contracted health care provider with Internet access can use it. The online service is available Monday through Saturday and is secured with individual personal identification numbers (PIN). Users cannot access personal medical information through this system. Only information related to a member's health policy benefits and payment is accessible.

"With this system, we are using web-based information to make the days of phone wait and phone tag obsolete," said Dr. Myers. "The volume of traffic on our website and feedback from our providers clearly demonstrate the time saving value of this service and its usability in today's health care business environment. Any reduction in administrative hassle is a plus for both patients and health care professionals."

With a secure Blue Cross activated PIN, contracting health professionals can access a range of patient information options from members' benefits and eligibility to visual copies of payments made for services rendered and when payment was issued. Providers can also review a member's medical group and physician history to determine what doctors a patient may have already seen. Only member claims related to the provider's tax identification number may be accessed. Claims status information is password protected and encrypted to protect member confidentiality, as is all ProviderAccess information.

"Physicians and hospitals are valued partners in delivering on our vision," added Dr. Myers. "This is one of many steps to utilize the capabilities of the Internet to make the process of doing business more efficient for everyone. Quick and easy access to information will ultimately result in greater patient satisfaction and service."

ProviderAccess was developed by Blue Cross of California with input from dozens of physicians and other health care practitioners across the state according to Kimberly Daftari, director of provider services, Blue Cross.

"Before we moved forward with plans to enhance the website, we asked our doctors what we could do to make their jobs easier," said Daftari. "The overwhelming response was to add claims status and payment information, and that's what we've given them."

In addition to this resource, Blue Cross members may also log-on to the website and obtain information about their health plan benefits and special member services as well as download claim forms and enrollment applications. Members can also check the status of their own claims or review specific benefits.

To sign-up for ProviderAccess, physicians and medical facilities within the Blue Cross provider network should log on to www.bluecrossca.com, click the "Provider" prompt and follow the directions.

Blue Cross of California and its California affiliates, with more than 5.7 million medical members in the state, is an operating subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded health care companies. WellPoint serves the health care needs of approximately 10 million medical and more than 44 million specialty members nationally. WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including open access PPO, POS and hybrid products, HMO and specialty products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration, and Medicare supplements.