Seven Ways the Right Solution Solves Healthcare Payment Complexity
ECHO
|
September
09,
2025
The complexity and importance of healthcare payments demands to be more than a transactional function of business.
Paper checks still account for 23% of healthcare and 30% of dental claim payments. Compliance rules tighten every year, adding exposure to penalties and audits. Fragmented workflows and manual processes drain resources, create payment delays, heighten security risks, and cause provider dissatisfaction — bottlenecks that ripple across finance, provider relations, and compliance teams
Complexity drives waste, while simplicity delivers savings, mitigates risk, and increases provider satisfaction. For health plans, dental plans, and third-party administrators (TPAs), simplifying the healthcare payment process is a strategic imperative for growth in a digital-first world.
The High Price of Complexity
Outdated, paper-based processes aren’t just inconvenient — they’re expensive. Each year, healthcare incurs a staggering $760-935 billion in financial waste due to:- Reconciling data across multiple systems
- Fielding endless payment inquiry calls
- Managing regulatory complexity
- Stalled adoption of digital payments
Seven Ways the Right Solution Solves Complexity
A payment solution should do more than process checks. They should remove cost and complexity from payments. Here’s what that looks like in practice:1. Built-In Security & Fraud Prevention
The problem: Fraud schemes are evolving faster than fragmented, outdated systems can keep up.
The fix: Built-in, real-time, multilayered fraud detection with compliance to HITRUST, NACHA, PCI, and other relevant standards. This means fewer blind spots, stronger safeguards, and peace of mind for every payment.
2. Effortless Integration That Doesn’t Drain IT
The problem: Implementation can consume months of IT resources, and delays go-live.
The fix: Prebuilt connections to major claims platforms enable faster implementations. This means IT teams can stay focused on their own priorities instead of endless configuration.
3. Connectivity That Increases Digital Payment Adoption
The problem: A solution with limited provider connections will struggle to improve digital payment rates, regardless of its technical capabilities.
The fix: A solution connected to a large provider network — with a minimum of over one million providers nationwide. This means digital payment adoption is accelerated from day one, reducing the reliance on paper checks, and delivering measurable ROI.
4. Flexible Payment Options for Providers
The problem: Providers resist digital adoption when every transaction comes with a fee.
The fix: Flexible digital payment options including ACH/direct deposit, virtual cards, and digital checks. These options run automatically and include no-cost options for providers. This means higher digital payment adoption, faster payments, and satisfied providers.
5. No-Cost Electronic Remittance Options
The problem: Reconciliation without remittance data causes errors and spikes call volumes to service teams.
The fix: Delivering electronic remittance information at no cost, in easy, integrated formats within provider accounting systems. This means less manual intervention, less errors, and subsequently reduces support calls.
6. 1099 Liability Transfer
The problem: Year-end 1099 reporting is a resource drain and compliance risk because of data gaps, inaccuracies, and manual processes that can cause TIN mismatches and subsequent penalties.
The fix: End-to-end 1099 management through a partner that goes beyond matching and reporting to assume liability for mismatch penalties, removing risk from your organization. This means internal teams avoid year-end stress while compliance risks are fully absorbed by your partner.
7. Member Services That Strengthen Trust
The problem: Basic payment solutions overlook member support, leaving plans and TPAs forced to use another vendor for ID cards, Explanation of Benefits (EOBs), and disbursements. This results in a fragmented and inconsistent experience for members.
The fix: Integrated member ID cards, EOBs, and other supporting documentation available in digital or physical formats and customized to the plan. This means members experience consistent brand communication that builds satisfaction and strengthens trust.
Three Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Solution
When choosing a solution, don’t just ask a partner what they offer. Ask what they solve. The checklist includes three simple questions:- Network breadth. Does their solution connect with the providers you already pay?
- Ease of integration. Can the solution be implemented into your systems quickly, with minimal IT lift?
- Proven ROI. Before you sign, can they show projected savings with a no-cost analysis of your own payment data?
Payments Simplified: Partnership That Scales With You
At ECHO, we believe payments should simplify your operations, not complicate them. That’s why we take on the pain points others leave behind, including:- No-cost electronic payment options that accelerate digital payment adoption.
- No-cost electronic remittance options that reduces provider friction.
- Digital payment adoption exceeding 90% to drive measurable ROI.
- Seamless integrations with major core systems that accelerate time-to-value.
- 1099 liability transfer that goes beyond matching and reporting to reduce risk.
- Member services support that delivers a positive brand experience.
- Dedicated client service that functions as an extension of your team.
With more than 25 years of experience, we know how to scale securely and deliver meaningful results for health plans, dental plans, and TPAs. Stop settling for “good enough.” Expect more from your payments partner.
Take the next step towards simplicity with our Strategic Guide to Evaluating and Implementing a Full-Service Payment Solution for Health Plans and TPAs.
