Premium billing managers face a multitude of challenges. From ensuring accuracy and efficiency in a complex regulatory environment to providing a seamless customer experience, managing billing operations requires best-in-class billing solutions.
Yet many health plans still leverage dated internal, server-based solutions cobbled together after mergers and acquisitions. Or, they’re using limited billing applications developed by their core admin vendor as an afterthought. Compared to traditional on-premise software or limited core admin billing modules, cloud solutions offer advantages that can improve health insurance billing accuracy while saving billing managers and their teams time.
Accessibility Anytime, Anywhere
One of the most significant benefits of cloud-based premium billing software is its accessibility. Unlike on-premise software confined to specific workstations or company servers, cloud solutions are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud software allows billing managers and their teams to work remotely, review accounts, and process payments.
This flexibility is valuable in today’s work environment, where remote work arrangements are becoming more popular. Plus, accessibility doesn’t require expensive hardware installations. Cloud-based software runs on the vendor’s servers, eliminating the need for costly IT infrastructure on your end.
For example, imagine a billing manager needs to review an invoice or run an aging report while attending an industry conference. With cloud-based software, they can log in from their laptop and access the necessary information, leading to an uninterrupted workflow. Cloud billing solutions improve efficiency while delivering better customer service by enabling faster responses to inquiries.
Scalability
Most premium billing activity centers around specific times of the month. Generating invoices, for example, happens on a specific day each month. Being able to scale your technology to meet demand not only speeds delivery but also reduces cost.
Cloud-based solutions excel in this area. They offer exceptional scalability, allowing you to add or remove computing power as your needs change. During peak transaction generation, you can scale up to handle increased workloads, while during slower periods, you can scale down resources to optimize costs. This flexibility eliminates the need for costly hardware upgrades or software licensing changes every time your business grows or shrinks.
Plus, cloud-based billing software vendors like Certifi are constantly improving their platforms. These updates are automatically rolled out to all users, ensuring you always have access to the latest features and functionalities without any additional installation or configuration hassles.
For example, Certifi runs a two-week sprint cycle that delivers updates frequently throughout the year. Additionally, there’s no need to install software updates as they appear when released, ensuring your billing software constantly evolves to meet new business needs.
Enhanced Security in the Cloud
As the recent Change Healthcare hack shows, security is vital for health insurance companies that handle sensitive member data. While concerns about data security in the cloud were once prevalent, cloud providers have invested heavily in robust security measures.
Cloud-based premium billing software platforms typically employ advanced security features like encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems to safeguard sensitive information. Cloud server data centers often have physical security measures like access control and 24/7 surveillance.
Cloud vendors also undergo regular security audits and certifications, ensuring their platforms meet the highest industry standards. Vendors routinely perform data backups, offering extra protection against accidental data loss or hardware failures.
Unlike on-premise software, which might rely on a single in-house server, cloud-based solutions often offer a more reliable security infrastructure.
Integration Made Easy
Health insurance companies rely on many software systems to manage operations. Cloud-based premium billing software excels at integrating with these existing systems, streamlining data flow while eliminating manual data entry and reconciliation.
For example, since our inception, we designed software to integrate with upstream and downstream solutions. We’re vendor-agnostic. Compare that to internally built billing solutions or core admin billing modules built to integrate with the existing infrastructure. By design, that makes it more difficult to implement best-in-class solutions. A tightly integrated infrastructure reduces errors and inconsistencies, improves data accuracy, and delivers a more holistic view of member information.
For instance, cloud-based billing software can seamlessly integrate with upstream core admin or enrollment platforms and downstream accounting systems. This allows for automatic data transfer between these platforms, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reconciliation.
These integrations not only save time but also reduce the risk of errors. Additionally, these integrations provide real-time insights into billing operations, enabling data-driven decision-making for billing managers.
Reduced IT Burden and Lower Costs
Cloud-based billing software also reduces the IT burden placed on health insurance companies. On-premise software demands significant IT infrastructure and installation, maintenance, and update resources. Cloud solutions, on the other hand, eliminate this burden. The vendor handles all the technical aspects, including security, software updates, and maintenance, freeing your IT team to focus on core business needs and strategic development of core in-house systems.
Furthermore, cloud-based billing software operates on a subscription-based model. This eliminates the upfront costs of purchasing licenses and installing hardware for on-premise software. Subscription fees are typically predictable and often scale based on usage, allowing for better budget forecasting and cost control. Typically, the result is significant cost savings for health insurance companies, especially those with limited IT resources.
The benefits of cloud-based billing software are clear. From unparalleled accessibility and scalability to enhanced security and cost savings, cloud solutions empower health insurance companies to streamline billing operations, improve efficiency, and deliver a superior customer experience.
Certifi’s health insurance premium billing and payment solutions help healthcare payers improve billing accuracy while reducing administrative costs.
