Tufts Health Plan expands relationship with Emdeon to offer a comprehensive suite of provider payment and member Explanation of Benefit (EOB) distribution services
Nashville, TN (January 7, 2008) – Emdeon Business Services announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Tufts Health Plan to add its payment management services to their longstanding relationship. Tufts Health Plan has partnered with Emdeon for nearly 10 years for EDI services including claims, eligibility and benefits verification and other HIPAA-based transactions. Through this expanded partnership, Tufts Health Plan will roll out a full suite of payment and payment communication related solutions to its providers and members which will include print and mail services; electronic payments to providers and vendors that are supported through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) used to reconcile and post receivables; as well as electronic Explanation of Benefits (eEOB) to plan members.
Its members will benefit through an improved member-friendly EOB design with the option to go paperless by accessing a complete electronic version (eEOB) via the health plan's Web site. Additionally, through Emdeon’s postage cooperative, Healthpayers USA, the organization will streamline distribution of provider checks and Explanation of Payments (EOPs). Working closely with Tufts Health Plan, Emdeon will provide assistance in the areas of provider marketing, enrollment and administration of the ePayment services with the objective of migrating providers and vendors to electronic payments.
According to Tricia Trebino, senior vice president of operations and chief information officer, this is a logical evolution based upon a successful long-term partnership. She said, “The marketplace is seeking greater transparency. Therefore, transparency and ease of doing business is top of mind for us. Having the capability in place to make our business transactions easier for members and providers is going to minimize the opportunity for error and contribute to fostering good relationships. Emdeon understands what we need and we are delighted that we are able to further our relationship with such a trusted vendor.”
“We are extremely excited to broaden our longstanding relationship with Tufts Health Plan”, said Gary Stuart, executive vice president of Emdeon Business Services. “Its market leadership in Massachusetts coupled with Emdeon’s provider reach and experience in migrating paper-based administrative processes in healthcare puts us in a unique position to accelerate the transition to electronic payments. These services offer greater transparency into the claim settlement process and reduce administration for Tufts Health Plan’s providers and plan members.”
Tufts Health Plan has been named number two in the country for both HMO/POS combined products for a second consecutive year, and achieved a third place ranking for its Medicare Advantage program for the second year in a row by U.S. News & World Report and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Emdeon’s extensive health information network processes nearly four billion transactions annually on behalf of its payer, provider and vendor customers. Emdeon provides EDI services to more than 12,000 Massachusetts-based providers. With industry leading financial management solutions, Emdeon is simplifying the business of healthcare.
About Emdeon Business Services
Emdeon Business Services is a leading provider of revenue cycle management and clinical communication solutions that enables payers, providers and patients to improve healthcare business processes. Our solutions are designed to simplify the business and improve the delivery of healthcare for providers, payers and patients. Emdeon Business Services is owned by General Atlantic LLC and HLTH Corporation (NASDAQ: HLTH). For more information, visit www.emdeon.com.
About Tufts Health Plan
Tufts Health Plan is a Watertown, Massachusetts-based health plan nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage and has New England's highest enrollment in consumer-driven health plans. The plan is on the cutting edge of empowering its members and employers to make informed health care decisions and supports them with an array of physician and clinician led health management programs. Tufts Health Plan’s HMO, POS and Medicare Advantage plans maintain Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. For more information, visit www.tuftshealthplan.com.