Minnesota goes electronic

A law has come into effect in the state of Minnesota, in the US, ruling that all healthcare claims be done via electronic billing, reports Post-Bulletin.

The Minnesota Department of Health expects the legislation will save the department an estimated $60 million per year, as paperwork is eliminated, billing is standardised and errors are reduced.

The Minnesota government has defined a standard set of terms that all health providers, including doctors, dentists, chiropractors and hospitals, must use when billing for a healthcare claim.

Barclays has introduced an e-billing system designed to allow the bank to closely monitor external legal costs, says Legalweek.

The diversity programme is one of a number of initiatives Barclays has introduced as part of its latest review in order to cut costs and strengthen relationships with panel firms.

General counsel Mark Harding says: "Through the panel process we have naturally reviewed projected rates and have focused on firms that are not only competitive but that can also demonstrate innovation in the way that they approach a range of pricing arrangements."

CTI Group, a provider of e-billing and bill analysis, has revealed findings from its e-billing survey, states PR-Inside.

The sample of senior telco professionals surveyed from the company's customer base has turned received wisdom on its head. The most surprising result centres around the industry's traditional concern that by providing customers with online bill analysis tools - helping customers to cut unnecessary expenditure - will lead to a drop in telco revenues.

In practice however, the survey confirms that 86% of those surveyed stated that the provision of e-billing and analysis, rather than threatening revenues, has in contrast opened up the opportunity to win more business, as well as enhancing existing customer satisfaction.