A recent Gartner survey found that 26% of CIOs and technology investors at healthcare payers made digital investments primarily to increase innovation, tied with growing revenue as the third-most frequent response. Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance finished just behind innovation at 21%.
Yet often, those goals may be at odds. Innovation may introduce risk. Take the case of the OceanGate. The company touted its innovative use of modern, off-the-shelf materials. Those materials made it more cost-effective than other deep-sea submersibles. Unfortunately, that innovation led to safety concerns that ultimately were realized when the submersible imploded.
The tradeoff isn’t usually that dire, but innovation can lead to security risks. Here are tips to help balance innovation and security in health insurance technology:
Understand the Challenges
Health insurance companies face a unique set of challenges when it comes to managing innovation and security. They must innovate to stay competitive, improve operational efficiency, and deliver superior member and customer experiences. On the other hand, the industry operates within a highly regulated business environment. Insurers place a premium on securing sensitive healthcare data.
Implementing a Risk-Based Approach
Managing the balance between innovation and security in health insurance technology starts with adopting a risk-based approach. Companies must conduct comprehensive risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize security measures accordingly. This approach allows for informed decision-making, focusing resources where they are most needed while optimizing innovation.
Emphasize Security
Given the sensitive nature of healthcare data, health insurance companies must prioritize security. Robust security measures protect against data breaches, safeguard patient confidentiality, and maintain customer trust. Implementing comprehensive security protocols includes:
Data Encryption
By encrypting sensitive data at rest and in transit, health insurance companies can ensure that confidential information remains secure even if it falls into unauthorized hands.
Access Controls
Implementing granular access controls ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data. Regular audits and reviews of access privileges are vital to maintaining the security of health insurance systems.
Regulatory Compliance
Adhering to relevant regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is essential. Regular security assessments and audits help identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Embracing Secure Software Development Practices
Another crucial aspect of managing the balance between innovation and security is to adopt secure software development practices. Integrating security measures into the software development lifecycle helps identify vulnerabilities early on, reducing the risk of security breaches. Regular code reviews, penetration testing, and third-party security audits are essential to maintaining the integrity of health insurance technology.
Investing in Employee Education and Awareness
Employees play a pivotal role in maintaining the security of health insurance technology. Training and educating staff about data security best practices, such as recognizing phishing emails and practicing safe data handling, can mitigate the risk of human error leading to security breaches. Insurers should implement tegular security awareness programs to inform employees about emerging threats and security protocols.
Collaborating with Industry Experts
Health insurance companies should collaborate with industry experts and regulatory bodies. Partnering with cybersecurity firms and participating in industry-wide initiatives helps organizations gain access to the latest threat intelligence, best practices, and up-to-date security technologies. Gartner can be a great resource to connect with security-minded ideas and technologies.
Promoting Innovation
While security is crucial, health insurance companies cannot afford to fall behind in innovation. Embracing technological advancements and innovative solutions can help companies streamline operations, deliver personalized services, and enhance customer experience. Some ways to promote innovation in health insurance technology include:
Collaboration and Partnerships
Collaborating with technology providers and startups can bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. By fostering partnerships, health insurance companies can harness external expertise to drive innovation while maintaining security standards. Consider non-traditional partner engagements, like proof of concepts, to test innovative solutions prior to full-scale rollouts.
User-Centered Design
Adopting user-centered design principles ensures that technology solutions are intuitive, easy to use, and aligned with the needs of customers and employees. Conducting user research and gathering feedback throughout the software development process enables health insurance companies to create innovative, user-friendly solutions.
Agile Development
Adopting agile development methodologies allows health insurance companies to iterate quickly, respond to changing market needs, and accelerate the delivery of innovative solutions. Regularly reviewing and refining development processes ensures that insurers integrate security considerations throughout the innovation lifecycle.
Leverage Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have revolutionized various industries, and health insurance is no exception. By harnessing AI and ML technologies, insurers can streamline administrative tasks like premium billing, automate claims processing, detect fraud and abuse, and improve risk assessment. These technologies can also help insurers analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns, predict health risks, and personalize insurance plans based on individual needs.
Finding the right balance between innovation and security is a continuous challenge for health insurance companies. Prioritizing security measures and staying compliant with regulations helps companies safeguard sensitive data and maintain customer trust. Simultaneously, embracing innovation through collaboration, user-centered design, and agile development methodologies empowers health insurance companies to drive operational efficiency and deliver superior customer experiences. Striking the delicate balance between innovation and security is a key differentiator in an ever-evolving health insurance landscape.
Certifi’s health insurance premium billing and payment solutions help healthcare payers improve member satisfaction while reducing administrative costs.
