As a health plan or health system, you want to provide the best possible care for your patients. Unfortunately, ghost providers can make this goal difficult to achieve. These non-active providers can harm both patients and your business in numerous ways. Here are five ways ghost networks can cost you, from disrupting access to patient care to diminishing your competitive edge.
5 Ways Ghost Networks Harm Your Business
1. Disrupted Access to Care
When individuals purchase health insurance, whether it’s through an individual plan, a group plan, or a federal program, they’re relying on network data to make their decision. Ghost providers, falsely listed as available in marketing materials, when they truly can’t perform services, can lead to treatment delays, longer wait times, and ultimately, dissatisfied members. In some cases, members may be forced to seek out-of-network care, which means higher costs for them and you, and a loss of trust in their health plan.
2. Skewed Capacity and Resource Allocation
Ghost networks can create a false sense of provider capacity within your service lines and the strength of your network. Believing you have more providers than actually available can disrupt resource allocation, leading to shortages in vital specialties or services. This can lead to provider abrasion, delayed appointments, and decreased revenue for your organization.
3. Compliance Issues and Penalties
Operating with ghost providers puts your health plan or health system at risk of regulatory non-compliance. Regulators view inaccurate directories as deceptive marketing practices. To combat this, they are actively enhancing compliance measures to eliminate ghost networks. Breaching these regulations can result in fines, eroded patient and provider trust, and a tarnished organizational reputation.
Learn about The Requiring Enhanced & Accurate Lists of Health Providers Act, a proposed policy to increase provider data accuracy requirements, particularly focusing on ghost networks.
4. Diminished Competitive Edge
Maintaining a competitive advantage starts with the providers in your network. The presence of ghost providers can erode this advantage, leaving members disheartened by a network that falls short of expectations. Swiftly addressing this issue is vital to restoring your competitive edge, retaining members, and preventing them from seeking alternatives due to perceived shortcomings. Remember, dissatisfied patients looking elsewhere can translate to a loss of market share, revenue, and recruitment challenges.
5. Expansion Hurdles and Delays
Expanding your business presents exciting opportunities but also significant challenges. One major hurdle is swiftly and efficiently identifying providers who align with your network needs. Recruiting a provider who turns out to be a ghost wastes resources and doesn’t fill the gap in your network, hindering your growth.
Tip: For more guidance on expanding your healthcare provider network efficiently, be sure to check out our helpful tips How to Efficiently Expand Your Healthcare Provider Network.
Tips to Tackle Ghost Providers
Now that you know how ghost providers impact your network, you’re probably wondering what you can do about it. First, implement internal protocols to review inactive providers regularly. Use Quest Enterprise Services Provider Claims Insights to identify and remove ghost providers from your network. Second, engage in provider outreach initiatives to ensure active providers continue practicing and keep their information up to date. Third, be transparent with your members and inform them of any changes to their provider network. By taking these steps, you’re protecting your business from the risks of using ghost providers.
Ghost networks can have severe consequences for health plans and health systems. From disrupted access to patient care and compliance issues to distorted network capacity and a diminished competitive edge, the impact can be far-reaching. It’s crucial for organizations to proactively address ghost providers and take steps to ensure accurate provider directories, full compliance with regulations, and effective resource allocation. By doing so, you can enhance patient satisfaction, protect your reputation, and ultimately maximize the success and profitability of your provider network.
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