General Message
Meredith Ryan-Reid Named CEO of Versant Health
Ryan-Reid brings 25 years of diverse industry experience to one of the nation’s leading administrators of managed vision care
BALTIMORE, Maryland, August 30, 2022 – Versant Health, a leading national managed vision care company and wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, announced today that Meredith Ryan-Reid has been named CEO, effective September 1, 2022.
“Meredith’s experience in multiple facets of the insurance industry, commitment to talent development, and customer-centric approach position her as the ideal leader for the Versant Health team at this stage of the company’s evolution,” said Ramy Tadros, co-chairman of the Versant Health Board of Directors and regional president, U.S. Business at MetLife. “Versant Health’s customers, members, and vision care providers will benefit from her focus on delivering innovative customer-focused solutions.”
Ryan-Reid brings almost 25 years of experience in the insurance industry to the role. Since 2013, she has held a succession of senior roles at MetLife focused on Group Benefits product development, innovation, and distribution. During her tenure, she developed and launched the financial wellness app Upwise, established the company’s Financial Wellness & Engagement organization, expanded voluntary benefits distribution, and built the Accident & Health portfolio. Earlier in her career, she worked on both the brokerage and carrier sides of the business.
“The breadth of Versant Health’s expertise, network, and solutions is creating tremendous value across the vision care space,” said Ryan-Reid. “I’m looking forward to working with the talented Versant Health team to further accelerate business growth, drive stakeholder satisfaction, and advance the company’s mission.”
Read the full press release here.
MetLife Announcement
New Plan Names Davis Vision by MetLife and Superior Vision by MetLife
You received notification at the end of 2021 that Versant Health’s new owner MetLife added Davis Vision and Superior Vision plans among its vision product offerings.
You may have MetLife members seeking services from your office. You will need to ask the patient if they know which of the plans they have. In order to manage eligibility verification, orders and claims for MetLife, please refer to the following:
- Davis Vision by MetLife: Versant Health’s Provider Portal
- Superior Vision by MetLife: Versant Health’s Provider Portal
- MetLife Vision PPO: Follow your existing VSP process
To read the letter in its entirety, please visit the Versant portal under “Announcements”.
Medical/Utilization Management
Medical Policy Updates
There have been a number of medical policy updates throughout 2022. Please click on the link below to review medical policy updates.
August 2022 Provider Policy Updates
Medically Necessary Contact Lenses & Davis Vision
To be reimbursed for Visually Required (Medical Necessary) contact lenses and evaluations, you must complete and submit an original (red) HCFA 1500 form and add the approved authorization number in box #23.
Attach a copy of the approved prior authorization form to the original (red) HCFA 1500 form and mail it to:
Vision Care Plan Processing
P.O. Box 1525
Latham, New York 12110
Please contact Davis Vision Provider Services at 1-877-235-5316 if you need further assistance.
Customer Service
Provider Portal: Basic Troubleshooting Tips
| Step | Description |
| What browser are you using? |
The preferred browser is Chrome (Google). EDP Portal will also work on Firefox (Mozilla). But it does not work on Edge/Internet Explorer (Microsoft). |
| Clear cache and cookies |
It is a good idea to clear your browser cache and cookies because it will fix certain problems, like loading or formatting issues on sites.
If you use Firefox, check its support site for instructions. |
| Disable pop-up blocker |
A pop-up blocker is any program that prohibits a pop-up at some point in time.
|
| Is it a new PC? | The setting may need to be adjusted. See the above troubleshooting tips. |
| Are you using a MAC? | The EDP Portal does not work on a MAC. You will need a PC to access EDP. |
| Do you have another PC you could try? | The settings may be different on the current PC you are using. Try the above-mentioned troubleshooting tips. |
| Did it work on a different PC prior to this issue? | Is that PC available? Try the above-mentioned troubleshooting tips. |
Negative Balance Statements
Have you received a Negative Balance Statement and don't know why?
A negative balance typically occurs when your office collects payments directly from members that include a portion due to Davis for upgrades not covered by their plan. These are typically for items backup pair of frames, no-line bifocals, scratch coating, transition lenses and so on. Other amounts may be for adjustments made to previously adjudicated claims. Versant will attempt to recoup these amounts from future payments; however, once the balance hits 60 days old, we ask the providers to pay the balance by check or credit card.
Did you know you can pay your bill online using your credit card? Just log on to the Versant Health portal, navigate to Provider Dashboard and select “Pay My Bill” from the menu.
Click on the menu button, then on “Pay My Bill”. You will now see two options — one for Excel Advantage and one for Negative Balance. As before, you can use your credit card to pay the balance on your latest account statement, secure in the knowledge that the information is captured in accordance with the high standards of the Payment Card Industry (PCI).
Quick Reference Guide
Please click here: Versant Health Contact Reference Guide for ECPs
Quality
Member Appointment Availability
These last two years hit the eye care industry particularly hard. Among the challenges to our practices were the loss of revenue due to decreased patient appointments and the difficulty of balancing patient safety and patient experience.
As we all begin to return to normal, it is important, as our business begins to pick up, that we focus on patient experience. This is particularly important to our practice’s growth since so many people sought online solutions during the pandemic. We want to retain our existing patients and attract more.
Below are two tips for your practice that can help ensure a great experience for your patients.
- Appointment availability can set the tone for the patient experience. A good rule of thumb is that an appointment should be available within two (2) weeks of a member’s request. For urgent or emergent care, patients expect an appointment either the same day or the next. Additionally, routine eye exam appointments do not require a referral.
- In-office wait times are another opportunity to influence the patient experience. Continue to check in with your patients while they wait and set expectations for them if you have unplanned clinic situations. Patients want to understand issues that impact them and will appreciate your willingness to respect their time.
Frames and Lenses
Collection Frame Updates
All 36 newly added frames are now available and will be included in the provider’s next retro event. Once the provider receives the box of new frames for the retro event, the box should not be opened until the provider's scheduled retro event date. Once the retro event is completed, the old frames removed from the spindle need to be returned with the return label provided.
Collection Promotion
Save on frames monthly! View this month’s featured frames at Excel Advantage Promotion.
In the upcoming promotion for October through November 30th, providers will save up to 30% on select frames in all categories. The selection features newly released frames with updated styling, in addition to our proven best sellers!
Excel Advantage™
Excel Advantage™ allows in-network providers to purchase Exclusive Collection frames and safety frames up to 50% off regular wholesale prices, then set the selling price for their patients. Taking advantage of Excel Advantage™ is easy and convenient. With the Excel Advantage™ program, eye care providers can purchase additional collection frames for their private patients, saving on the cost of additional inventory. Providers can purchase frames instantly online with any major credit card or order frames by phone or fax and receive 30-day net invoicing.
Davis Vision - Excel Advantage™
Questions regarding your Frame Collection?
All frame collection questions can be answered quickly and efficiently by sending your questions to VersantHealthCollection@versanthealth.com.
Essilor Product Update
Effective September 13th, 2022, Varilux® S Series™ progressive lenses and Crizal® Avancé UV™ No-Glare lenses have been removed from the Versant Health formularies.
Varilux® X Series™ lenses were launched in 2017 and are EssilorLuxottica’s most advanced progressive lens design. Varilux® X Series lenses are in the same category as Varilux® S Series across MVC formularies. Varilux® X Series is the most innovative Varilux® lens design that significantly extends the area of sharp vision within arm’s reach, so patients no longer have to move their heads to find “just the right spot.” Varilux® X Series is the only progressive lens that has a 100% satisfaction rate from ECPs.1
Crizal® Rock™, launched in April 2021, is an improvement and replacement for Crizal® Avancé UV. Crizal® Rock is available in the same category as Crizal® Avancé UV across MVC formularies. Crizal® Rock is equipped with the unique High-Resistance Technology™ that makes it up to 70% more durable thanCrizal® Avancé UV for best-in-class durability.2
EssilorLuxottica is upgrading the Crizal Portfolio on October 4th, 2022, with the launch of the Best AR Coating Overall in the market along with upgrades to designs you already know and love.
Continue to offer your patients the best-in-class designs, from protection and durability to sharp vision and smooth transitions and drive patient value and practice profitability! Click here to learn more about the Crizal portfolio, or click here to learn more about the Varilux portfolio.
1ECP Brand Tracker survey conducted in 2020 by an independent third party. “Thinking of the Progressive Addition Lenses you dispense, overall, how satisfied are you with each product?” Satisfied & Very Satisfied (n=34 ECPs)
2Best-in-class is defined as best performance of a certain attribute within the Crizal® portfolio
3Within the US market, based on the results of several studies in areas of anti-reflective efficiency, ease of cleaning, smudge and scratch resistance, and UV protection.
Register Today for Free ERA/EFT from InstaMed
Versant Health partners with InstaMed to offer the free Payer Payments solution to deliver your payments via electronic remittance advice (ERA) and electronic funds transfer (EFT).
What is ERA/EFT?
Securely receive paperless, convenient claim payments with electronic remittance advice and electronic funds transfer (ERA/EFT). Funds are deposited directly into your designated bank account and include the TRN Reassociation Trace Number in accordance with CAQH CORE Phase III Operating Rules for HIPAA standard transactions.
Benefits of ERA/EFT include:
- Accelerated access to funds with direct deposit to your selected bank account
- No disruption to your existing payments workflows
- Reduced administrative time and costs with the elimination of paper checks and remittances
- Removal of the risk of lost or stolen checks
- Simplified and secure reconciliation, posting and viewing of payment information online
Register today at www.instamed.com/eraeft to start receiving your Versant Health payments as free ERA/EFT.
Join Our Network
Want to join our networks or need to get a doctor credentialed for your practice?
Serving more than 38 million members nationwide, Versant Health is one of the nation’s leading managed vision care companies. Versant Health leverages both Davis Vision and Superior Vision provider networks to provide both routine and medical management vision services that ensure members are receiving the highest quality of care and outstanding patient traffic into your practice. If you are interested in joining our networks, adding an un-credentialed doctor to your practice or would like to refer a colleague, please visit one of the links below. We’ve streamlined our website to make it more efficient; complete the request form, and one of our network recruitment specialists will be in contact.
https://davisvision.com/eye-care-professionals/join
https://superiorvision.com/eye-care-professionals/join
