PRIME CURE NETWORKS Prime Cure has existing relationships with more than 10 000 healthcare service providers including general practitioners, dentists, optometrists, specialists, pharmacies and private hospitals. Through its infrastructure and contracted service providers Prime Cure offers its members a well established, contracted network providing national coverage. Prime Cure is continuously growing and expanding its network in order to provide adequate and reasonable access to patients which is in close proximity to their homes or place of work. Prime Cure believes that a stable, well managed provider network is crucial for the delivery of cost effective primary healthcare services. To ensure an informed and compliant network Prime Cure has provider relationship managers whose sole function is to contract and educate providers on the Prime Cure offering,  formulary compliance while rendering assistance with queries. Providers are regularly visited by their dedicated relationship manager who remains in close contact with providers at all times. This support team receives ongoing training on all relevant issues such as benefits, operational issues and possible technology problems encountered when submitting claims. They attend cyclical training workshops which enables them to assist and train providers and their staff. They also brief providers on accreditation and profile issues. In order to respond to growth and to establish capacity and geographic accessibility the Network establishment process is dynamic and constantly evolving. Website Information Service Providers can access important tools such as manuals, forms, formularies and any other pertinent information such as processes and protocols from the Prime Cure website at http://www.primecure.co.za. Providers are encouraged to register on the website to obtain a user name and password. Prime Cure’s website allows providers easy access to their remittances. To access this information providers can log onto www.primecure.co.za and then click on Provider Login. After entering the user login and password, the provider selects”View Advices” which will allow the provider the opportunity of viewing a remittance advice by date. Update of your Provider contact details Provider newsletters are sent quarterly covering a variety of topics. It is important for both providers and members to be informed about operational matters as well as the managed care principles of their medical scheme. Prime Cure has relationship managers situated nationally. These qualified staff members regualarly interact with providers through personal visits and telephone calls. Providers are requested to inform the relationship managers of any changes that include practice details, contact particulars and professional status. An alternative would be for the providers to contact their allocated Relationship Manager or to communicate any changes by email to the allocated email address provider.loading@primecure.co.za or networks@primecure.co.za or by sending it by facsimile to 086 680 6898. This ensures that the database of our providers remains fully up-to-date. Migration from Paper to EDI submission method Paper claim submissions are discouraged for various reasons. The main reason being that should claims be lost in the mailing process, there is no means of locating these claims. Also, providers must note that the turnaround for paper claims is longer. Once received, paper claims have to be logged, scanned, pre-assessed and assessed. Only then are the claims sent through for payment. In order to improve timeous payment of claims it is beneficial for claims to be submitted electronically. Prime Cure encourages providers to submit electronic claims for their mutual benefit. The reason for this is that claims submitted via EDI are processed and paid in less than seven days following receipt thereof. This allows for the provider to immediately detect incorrect details on the claim and to rectify and re-submit these immediately.