With less than four months until the New Millennium, the Year 2000 status of more than half of America's healthcare provider organizations remain unclear, according to the RX2000 Solutions Institute in Minneapolis.
To stay on top of this issue that affects patient care, uncertainties in medical records and claims payment systems, 12 California health plans are collaborating with RX2000 to assess their Y2K readiness. This agreement will help the health plans meet their due diligence requirements on Year 2000 preparedness.
The partnership, led by Lifeguard Inc., a 250,000-member heatlh plan in San Jose, Calif., is expected to:
- increase provider response rates;
- achieve improved efficiencies through outsourcing the survey process;
- improve the ability to assess the providers' Y2K compliance status as it evolves; and
- enhance relationships with contracting providers through a less time-intensive process that satisfies multiple health plan needs.
RX 2000 will conduct provider surveys and reporting services every 60 days. Participating health plans include Aetna, Blue Shield of California, Lifeguard, Maxicare and Pacificare of California.
(RX2000, www.rx2000.org, 612/835-4478)