Every Broker Needs a Network Caddie

Getting ready to watch some amazing golf this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Arizona, it struck me that brokers could take a cue from the game and benefit from a healthcare network caddie.

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After all, selecting and managing a provider network can be as complex (and sometimes frustrating) as playing through a new golf course. A sand pit here, a pond there. A slope you can’t really see and a bank of trees that’s right in the way.

So if network caddies did exist, what would they do?

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Monitor the Changing Winds
A seasoned caddie offers real-time guidance to adjust strategy and minimize risk. In provider network selection, the winds of costs, referral patterns, and regulatory changes like ERISA are always shifting. A network caddie could track fluctuations, foresee the impact of policy shifts, and help clients adapt before the market changes direction.

Predict Range and Hazards

Judging the exact distance from the tee box to the flag (and the hazards in between) is crucial to choosing the right club and hitting it with the optimal angle and power. Relying on guesswork can lead to overshooting or coming up short. Brokers face similar challenges–identifying not just the proximity of facilities but the hazards to reaching the best network value, patient access, and cost efficiency. A network caddie could offer precise analytics to evaluate and select providers that deliver measurable benefit.

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Judge the Slope

A caddie reads the slope, knowing when more finesse or power is needed, turning a potential obstacle into an advantage. Judging the slope in network selection means sizing up leverage. Plan size, utilization velocity, and negotiation strategy can be used to reduce costs or improve terms. A network caddie could analyze claims patterns and group dynamics, finding the right angle to lower expenses and increase value.

Take the Temperature

Changing temperatures affects how golf balls travel. Network selection “hot spots” of rapidly rising cost, outlier claims, or provider types driving disproportionate spend are common but can oftentimes be difficult to uncover. A network caddie could find and address these hot spots early, turning cost pressures into opportunities.

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The constantly changing healthcare environment could make professional network caddies indispensable. That’s why Handl’s approach, which is grounded in real data and context, gives brokers the caddie-level confidence to account for every variable, so you come in under par every time.

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Handl Health is revolutionizing how health plans are built and managed. We’re doing that by  bringing the latest tech Innovations to the employer-sponsored benefits ecosystem. Our holistic infrastructure platform empowers users to design, deploy and monitor alternative health plans. 

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Schedule a demo to see how we can help you read the healthcare course and craft the perfect drive.     

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