#USA #New York #Behavioral Health #Sohar Health #Network Status

Sohar Health Launches Network Status Tool

In a remarkable advancement for behavioral health providers, Sohar Health has officially unveiled its latest offering: the Network Status tool. This innovative solution is designed to streamline the process of determining a patient's insurance coverage and whether their chosen provider is in-network, addressing a critical need in the healthcare sector.

Behavioral health providers have traditionally faced challenges when verifying in-network status, often leading to lengthy wait times and unnecessary financial surprises for patients. The complexity of insurance networks, compounded by outdated and inaccurate directories, has resulted in significant hurdles in delivering timely care. A staggering 86% of mental health providers listed in some directories are reported to be inaccurate, which puts an additional strain on both patients and healthcare providers alike.

The Need for Network Status

As insurance landscapes become more intricate, the chances of accidental out-of-network visits increase, which can significantly impact patients’ financial stability. With adults being five times more likely to seek out-of-network behavioral health services, the potential consequences are far-reaching, leading to higher out-of-pocket costs and treatment delays that could affect patient outcomes.

Sohar's new Network Status tool offers a solution that alleviates this administrative burden by providing instant and accurate verification of in-network status. Through advanced automation and customizable rules, the tool enables providers to confirm whether a patient’s provider is covered under their insurance plan before care is delivered, thereby significantly reducing the risk of denials and unexpected bills.

Features and Benefits

The Network Status tool is built on a robust API-driven platform that integrates smoothly into existing systems, offering:

• - Accurate eligibility determination across various plans, payers, and regions.
• - A customizable rules engine which allows providers to tailor the verification process based on their specific needs and the unique requirements of different insurance plans.
• - Time and cost savings by minimizing manual checks that are often labor-intensive and error-prone.
• - Enhanced patient satisfaction due to reduced instances of unexpected bills that occur when providers are out-of-network, fostering a more transparent patient experience.

Ashish Mandavia, the CEO and co-founder of Sohar Health, stated, "Network Status simplifies the complex landscape of insurance plans and third-party administrators into a single, reliable source of truth. Our goal is to streamline care delivery for both providers and their patients."

Positive Impacts on Workflow

Feedback from behavioral health organizations utilizing Network Status underscores the significant improvements in administrative efficiency and patient intake workflows. Rusty Leonard, Senior Financial Operations Manager at Rula, noted, “What used to take hours for verification can now be accomplished in seconds, allowing us to focus more on patient care rather than being bogged down with administrative tasks.”

Furthermore, Andrew Stein, Head of Finance and Business Operations at Innerwell, shared his appreciation for the tool's effectiveness: “Sohar’s no-code rules engine has empowered us to navigate the challenges common in behavioral health, enabling us to prevent billing issues stemming from eligibility gaps.”

This tool is a crucial addition to Sohar Health’s suite which already includes the Discovery tool for verifying insurance with minimal data and the Verification tool for real-time eligibility checks. These offerings mark a significant commitment by Sohar Health to enhance operational efficiency and improve patient outcomes.

Conclusion

With the launch of Network Status, Sohar Health is poised to enhance the intersection of technology and healthcare significantly. By addressing the critical pain points of behavioral health providers and their patients, this innovative tool represents a critical step forward in creating a more efficient and patient-centered healthcare model. For more details on Network Status and how it can benefit providers, visit Sohar Health’s official site.