How can we better serve you?
Devon Health, in its continued efforts to provide superior customer service and enhanced provider communications, is reaching out to providers to ask the question, “How can we better serve you?”
Through an online Provider Satisfaction Survey, found at http://www.devonhealth.com/providers/provider-satisfaction-survey.aspx, network providers can rate Devon Health's customer service quality and communicate any past issues, current concerns, or exceptional customer service experiences.
The survey will only take a few minutes to complete, but your thoughts will have a lasting impact. The feedback offered will help Devon Health identify opportunities to better serve its provider community and recognize employees who are currently exceeding providers' customer service expectations.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nick Leh , Director of Provider Relations, at nleh@devonhealth.com or 610-757-4133.
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Devon Health Assumes Delegated Credentialing Responsibility in Response to NCQA Requirements
As the highest standard of credentialing and re-credentialing, NCQA is quickly becoming the industry standard. Major payers have begun to adopt NCQA standards while others have even opted to become NCQA accredited.
This growing trend has prompted Devon Health to proactively introduce specified NCQA standards into its provider credentialing and re-credentialing program. To minimize the “hassle factor” for providers, Devon Health has begun to implement a universal credentialing application. This application will effectively meet the criteria of both Devon Health and associated payor partners, such as Humana and Aetna, to minimize incidents in which duplicate applications would be required. In addition, Devon Health will soon be implementing CAQH in order to compliment its already enhanced credentialing and re credentialing program. CAQH is the universal credentials application designed to streamline the process as well as eliminating many of the hassle factors often associated with the traditional application and credentials process.
All providers in the Devon Health network will be receiving more information regarding Devon Health's NCQA and CAQH initiatives during the first quarter of 2009. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Shawn Scavone, Assistant Vice President/ Provider Support Services at 800-431-CARE X4114 or sscavone@devonhealth.com with any questions or concerns.
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News from the Credentialing Committee
Elliot Menkowitz, M.D. was recently elected as the new Chairperson. Dr. Menkowitz is an orthopedic surgeon with a successful practice in Southeastern PA, and is also involved in many healthcare and business initiatives. Serving on the committee with him are Michael Stulpin, M.D.; Denise Ranucci M.D.; Joseph Ardito, M.D.; Birgit Wiswe, M.D.; Nainesh Patel, M.D; Anthony Piriano, M.D.; and Scott Rosenthal, M.D.
Goals for the coming year include adopting more of the NCQA processes and protocols into the credentialing and re-credentialing process so adherence and standardization can be better achieved; revising policies and procedures in order to more adequately reflect these changes and consider adopting a quality program based on the Medicare PQRI program whereby quality issues could be addressed without having physicians being required to submit anything new or having to change many things. As these and other things develop, all Devon Health providers will be kept informed.
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2009 Fee Schedule to be released in First Quarter 2009
Devon Health will be releasing its 2009 Fee Schedule on March 1st. Changes include adapting more to Medicare RBRVS while still holding onto the proprietary and commercial PPO nature of the fees. In addition, Site of Service edits will be implemented. These changes are nothing that unfamiliar, in that most, if not all providers, experience this with other payers and insurance-related entities. So providers will want to be sure that coding and documentation is correct in order to receive the maximum benefit and to be sure the claim is re-priced correctly
Also with the implementation of the new fee schedule “Unlisted Codes” (UL) will no longer be recognized. Since there are no “relative values” associated with these codes along with the broad and general nature of the descriptions these will be eliminated. Thus providers are encouraged to use the codes that to the greatest degree of specificity most closely relate the services being performed As a “flag” to providers should an unlisted code be used $0.01 (one cent) would be the re-priced value. This should serve as an alert that the incorrect code was used and to re submit the claim with the correct code. If the situation presents where it is believed that use of an unlisted code is warranted then appropriate documentation would be requested.
Devon Health has been working with its clients in order to insure that systems, processes, etc. are in place and working properly so that operational issues are minimized. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact your provider representative who will be able to assist you.
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Devon Health's Preferred Medical Malpractice Program-Helping You Identify the Best Policy for Your Practice
Devon Health's Preferred Medical Malpractice Program identifies the best policy for your practice through in-depth, specialty-specific market evaluations and hassle-free, highly-competitive malpractice insurance quotes. In order to obtain a rate please provide Devon with the following information:
- Loss information for each physician
- Copy of Current Declaration page for each physician
As the most comprehensive privately held PPO network in the Northeast, Devon Health believes its malpractice program offers an excellent opportunity for physicians to gain economies and efficiency in an area that has long been the cause of serious concern, expense and litigation. Devon understands the tough times Pennsylvania physicians are having when it comes to the expense and hassle associated with medical malpractice coverage and believes its Preferred Medical Malpractice Program could be of considerable benefit.
Should you have any questions or would like to set up a phone meeting at your convenience, please feel free to contact William Bruce, VP of Network Development at 800-431-CARE X4114 or wbruce@devonhealth.com
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Provider Newsletter - Network Management department and other organizational changes
Devon Health is committed to providing the best service possible to all of its providers. To ensure superior service, the company recently re-evaluated its Provider Relations' department processes and structure. The evaluation revealed areas for improvement causing Devon Network Management to restructure the department and its process in order to maximize high quality outcomes. Please look for the following improvements which have and will continue to be implemented in 2009:
- Streamlined application processes to ensure requested profile changes are completed as quickly as possible
- Redistribution of the dedicated Provider Relations team based on the following territories:
- Southeastern PA and DE
- Western PA
- Northeastern PA and NJ
- Introduction of new quality assurance measures including the latest “Provider Satisfaction Survey” which can be found at http://www.devonhealth.com/providers/provider-satisfaction-survey.aspx
- Implementation of NCQA credentialing requirements
- Increased personal attention for your office or facility through scheduled Provider Orientations
- Periodic regionally based (geographic specific) provider education/orientation sessions
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nick Leh , Director of Provider Relations, at nleh@devonhealth.com or 610-757-4133.
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Devon Health Sister-Company Devon Robotics Announced as Exclusive Distributor of Chemotherapy Admixture Robot
Devon Health continuously looks for opportunities to improve patient care, enhance relationships with providers, and lower healthcare costs. These opportunities often include partnerships with other companies in the medical industry.
In December a new sister-company to Devon Health, Devon Robotics, was announced as the exclusive long-term U.S. distributor and licensee of CytoCare™, a robot that safely, accurately, and cost-effectively automates the preparation of hazardous IV drug admixtures and improves patient and clinician safety.
CytoCare is built for pharmacies in hospitals, cancer centers, and outpatient chemotherapy facilities, and is the world's first and only automated robotic system for the safe preparation of hazardous, patient-specific cancer therapy medications and intravenous admixtures. It eliminates the human handling of chemotherapy and other hazardous drugs that can be extremely harmful for pharmacists. Other benefits include higher accuracy to reduce medical errors and improve patient safety and enhanced pharmacy workflow. CytoCare also saves facilities money on waste, personnel, and throughput.
For more information on CytoCare, please visit www.devonrobotics.com, or email Darren Behuniak at dbehuniak@devonrobotics.com.
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