On behalf of the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), we
appreciate the opportunity to offer comments to the Division of Insurance (DOI)
regarding improving provider network information.
The MMS supports the written testimony submitted by the
MassCollaborative on Wednesday, June 27 and attached hereto. The Massachusetts
Medical Society is a member of the MassCollaborative, a voluntary coalition of payers, providers and
associations lead by the Massachusetts
Health and Hospital Association (MHA), the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS),
the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP) and Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) and is focused
on simplifying and improving healthcare administration by increasing
transactional efficiency, eliminating waste, and promoting standardization
across the industry.
MMS appreciates the importance of all patients
having access to accurate network directories and the MMS understands the
necessity and complexity of ensuring up-to-date provider directory information
by providers and health plans. The MMS would like to underscore our commitment
to work with our MassCollaborative partners and other stakeholders on a
Provider Network Information Awareness Campaign. The Campaign will help educate
the provider community on the importance of submitting timely, accurate
practice demographic information to health plans. The education effort would
promote the use of the MassCollaborative’s Standardize Provider Information
Change Form – shared with the DOI on June 27th and also attached
hereto. The MMS plans to continue an
awareness campaign through the process of identifying a streamlined long-term
solution introduced either through the private efforts of the HealthCare
Administrative Solutions project and/or through the legislative process, should
legislation become enacted into law.
