The Wall Street Journal profiles a new UnitedHealth pilot billing program designed to pay providers quickly and encourage customers to settle their bills promptly. Under the company's new "OnePay" plan, UnitedHealth will reimburse providers at the time of a patient visit. The health plan will then act as creditor, receiving payments plus interest directly from patients. Monthly payments will be deducted from a health savings account, if a consumer has signed up for one, or directly from their paycheck. The company predicts providers will be willing to offer discounts in exchange for guaranteed payment. OnePay makes it debut in Texas in April. UnitedHealth says it expects the plan's "convenience" to win over employers, employees and providers. It remains to be seen if consumers will trust their health plan to tell them what they owe, but with the advent of consumer-driven health plans getting money out of consumers is clearly becoming a major problem for providers.
- see this article from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)
PLUS: Arizona has fined UnitedHealth $365,750 for "improperly denying" tens of thousands of physician claims. Article (sub. req.)