Assure, Don’t Assume, You’re on All the Provider Directories You Should Be

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois’s failure to ensure its online provider directories are current should be a wake-up call for urgent care operators everywhere. As reported by Becker’s Hospital Report, the company was just fined $605,000 for violating state network transparency laws; an audit showed the company failed to audit at least 25% of provider directories to ensure they were current and that their website maintained current provider information. The implication for urgent care operators is that when patients consult their own directories, they could find outdated information that doesn’t include you and therefore not realize that your urgent care center could be the optimal choice for them. So, it would be a good matter of practice to check relevant directories several times a year to ensure they’re accurate and that they reflect your status accurately.