Historically, eligibility verification has been a slow and labor-intensive process, fraught with inefficiencies that contribute to high claim denial rates.
Manual methods including phone calls and faxes—often result in outdated insurance information, missed coverage changes, and errors in benefit details.
Health Leaders Media says the inaccuracies can lead to denied claims, delayed payments, and increased administrative costs as providers grapple with resubmissions and lengthy accounts receivable (A/R) days.
Claim denials not only delay revenue but also divert staff from more valuable activities. For many healthcare organisations, this means spending excessive time correcting errors and managing denied claims, rather than focusing on tasks that directly impact patient care and financial health.
The revenue cycle encompasses all activities related to patient revenue, from administrative tasks to clinical interactions. Eligibility verification is a critical component of this cycle, influencing processes such as coding, billing, and payment posting.
Traditional manual verification methods also often create gaps between the review of eligibility and claims submission, leading to inefficiencies and delays.
Automated real-time verification solutions bridge these gaps by maintaining up-to-date revenue cycle data.
According Health Leaders Media to Businesses that switched to automated verification have seen significant improvements in their revenue cycle; some have seen reductions in denial rates from 11% to 4%, and A/R days from 45 to 26.
“It also reduces claim aging and allows providers to more aggressively follow up on unpaid claims before they reach the 30-60-90-day stage.”
By providing immediate confirmation of patient insurance details and coverage, the technology helps prevent common errors that will lead to a denial in medical billing.
Streamlining the verification process ensures that claims are accurate and compliant from the outset, reducing the likelihood of claim denials and accelerating the reimbursement cycle for healthcare providers.
In 2024 healthcare providers looking to enhance their revenue cycle operations and improve their bottom line, investing in automated real-time eligibility verification software is no longer just an option—it’s become strategic necessity.
Why Companies Are Automating Eligibility Verification
Automated insurance eligibility verification has become a crucial component in the complex ecosystem of claims processing within healthcare.
By seamlessly integrating with Electronic Health Records (EHR) and insurance databases, the technology provides a real-time stream of accurate and up-to-date patient insurance data.
This system’s real-time connectivity empowers healthcare providers to submit claims with precision and speed.
It goes beyond simple verification by thoroughly checking patients’ insurance coverage, policy details, copayments, deductibles, and any specific limitations or exclusions relevant to the medical services provided.
Insurance Eligibility Verification
Verifying insurance eligibility is a critical step in accessing medical services and ensuring that healthcare providers are compensated.
In a sector where both financial and operational efficiencies are vital, rapid and precise insurance verification is key to maintaining an effective healthcare delivery system.
David Vakhtangishvili, CEO of Andromeda said, “Picture a comprehensive healthcare app enriched by integrating expertise from other leading businesses. With this new collaboration, the potential for expanding healthcare service delivery is boundless,”
Vakhtangishvili is optimistic that this collaboration will pave the way for more opportunities to integrate technology into healthcare, emphasszing a shared commitment to enhancing healthcare access and affordability for patients both in the U.S. and around the globe.