Blue Cross technology blip causes enrollment chaos in North Carolina — 5 observations

A Blue Cross and Blue Shield technology error left many North Carolinians without health coverage, according to The Charlotte Observer. The payer is in the process of transferring patient data consumers from a legacy software to Facets. The technology was overwhelmed by late enrollments and inaccurate enrollment data, causing failed transactions and incorrect processes.

Advertisement

Here are five observations:

1. The payer reported it regained coverage for thousands of North Carolinians, but did not reveal how many residents are still without coverage due to the technology error.

2. Blue Cross received about 450,000 calls the first week of January, with consumers concerned about their coverage and inaccurate bills. The payer reported the call volume has significantly decreased.

3. The payer refunded $2 million to 4,637 consumers whose accounts were over-drafted during the crisis.

4. In December, Blue Cross planned to postpone mailing ID card to consumers because of heightened enrollment issues. However, the payer couldn’t catch up with the demand.

5. The N.C. Department of Insurance and the N.C. Attorney General will look into the incident to consider if any laws were violated.

More articles on coding, billing & collections:
Centene and HealthNet merger holds hearing — 5 takeaways
ICD-10 documentation tips: Top 10 diagnosis codes in anesthesiology
Healthcare penalty may reach $695 — 4 observations

Advertisement

Next Up in ASC Coding, Billing & Collections

Advertisement

Comments are closed.