BCBS North Carolina Selects McKesson for Provider Contract Automation

Durham, N.C.-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has selected McKesson (Newton, Mass.) Contract Manager to help automate its provider contracting process.

The software will centralize and automate the entire contracting process while driving administrative cost reductions, according to a statement. The insurer also recently licensed McKesson's ClaimsXten advanced claims editing system, which helps auto-adjudicate claims.

"As we move toward new care delivery and reimbursement models such as accountable care organizations and patient-centered medical homes, it is critical to become even more efficient in administering our contractual relationships," said Lisa Cade, vice president of provider networks at BCBSNC, in a statement. "McKesson's solutions enable us to increase our speed to market with new products, increase payment accuracy and efficiencies, and make it easier for our providers to do business with us. McKesson Contract Manager, in particular, will help us standardize policies and workflows that support the complex contracting requirements of new care delivery and reimbursement programs."

BCBSNC had previously engaged Portico Systems, a business consulting services provider that was acquired by McKesson last year, to examine ways to streamline processes and lessen the administrative burden for both the insurer and its provider community. The organizations discovered an opportunity to both reduce contract cycling and other inefficiencies while making the contracting process more strategic with Contract Manager, the statement concludes.

Nathan Golia is senior editor of Insurance & Technology. He joined the publication in 2010 as associate editor and covers all aspects of the nexus between insurance and information technology, including mobility, distribution, core systems, customer interaction, and risk ... View Full Bio