VitalityHealth has invested in Healthcode's services so independent practitioners and hospitals will find it quicker to submit e-bills for patients with a VitalityHealth policy.
From 1st February providers could use the secure online Membership Enquiry service to instantly confirm that a patient is a member of a valid VitalityHealth scheme and request their policy details.
The insurer said this a check that could "previously take up to 24 hours."
The new services will increase the first time pass rate for VitalityHealth invoices and ensure submitted bills are accurate, eliminating the queries which can delay payment.
This is complemented by Healthcode's Enhanced Clearing service which adds a layer of intelligence to the validation process, ensuring that only bills for positively identified members are submitted.
Any typographical anomalies between the details recorded by the provider and those stored by VitalityHealth will be automatically amended.
Healthcode offer a range of online billing, clinical coding and practice management solutions for the private healthcare sector. It is also the UK's official clearing company for electronic bills.
Ryan Murray, head of hospital services at VitalityHealth said: "These Healthcode services are a great investment for us because they benefit providers and patients, our two most important stakeholders.
"By improving the billing submission process, our providers will reduce administration time and expedite payment processing. At the same time, the membership enquiry service means patients, consultants or the hospital provider can be instantly reassured the patient has an active VitalityHealth policy in force."
Peter Connor, managing director at Healthcode added: "I'm confident that VitalityHealth will see a rapid return on this investment. When invoices are submitted with the incorrect membership number or patient address details, it is frustrating for all concerned and can also be upsetting for patients who need clarity about their treatment funding.
"Healthcode process around £3bn worth of invoices each year and our expertise has enabled us to develop more sophisticated automated checks that make the e-billing process even more efficient and cost-effective for everyone."
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