SunKnowledge has secured a new client in the orthopedic solutions sector, agreeing to provide eligibility and benefits verification services for orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) orders. The engagement is designed to help the provider manage growing administrative demands while allowing its patient service staff to spend more time assisting patients, according to a company announcement.
The client, described as an established orthopedic solutions company serving communities across western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and West Virginia, handles approximately 600 orders a month. As demand grew, insurance verification tasks consumed much of the staff’s time, even as the team expanded. The company wanted SunKnowledge to absorb the workload within its existing processes.
Much of that workload involves contacting insurers and checking benefits, as well as obtaining information not consistently available through online portals. Long payer hold times made it difficult for staff to predict how much of the day would be spent on a single verification. SunKnowledge’s support addresses these demands through a dedicated eligibility and benefits verification workflow and a team that will use payer portals where sufficient information is available and contact insurance representatives when additional details are required.
“Orthopedic providers put a great deal of care into making sure patients receive the right product, a proper fit, and clear instructions,” said Ronnie Hastings, spokesperson for SunKnowledge. “The administrative work behind that service deserves the same attention. Our role is to handle detailed insurance verification so their patient service team has more time to help patients. We will work within their established processes and focus on the coverage questions that need to be answered for each order.”
The engagement involves more than checking whether a patient has an active insurance plan. The client needs verification that considers the prescribed product, relevant Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes, and the payer’s applicable medical policies. Depending on the order, the review may also involve billing history, frequency limitations, and documentation requirements. This level of detail is especially relevant to custom bracing and ankle-foot orthoses, where an active policy does not by itself establish that a particular orthosis meets the plan’s coverage conditions.
SunKnowledge’s responsibilities include reviewing available documentation against payer requirements and identifying missing information or questions requiring follow-up. Treating professionals remain responsible for clinical decisions, and insurers retain responsibility for coverage determinations. Eligibility and benefits verification does not guarantee payment, but documenting what has been verified and what remains unresolved can help the provider recognize coverage concerns earlier.
The client currently uses Nimble, and SunKnowledge confirmed prior experience with the platform. The proposed workflow will use secure, authorized access and follow the organization’s existing processes, allowing the client to add verification support without a major change to daily work. The initial scope centers on eligibility verification and benefits checks. SunKnowledge has also offered a flexible service model that would allow the client to consider additional functions such as prior authorization, billing, denial management, and document management as needs develop, subject to a separate agreement.
For the orthopedic provider, the immediate objective is to add administrative capacity while maintaining attentive patient service. For SunKnowledge, the engagement expands its work with orthopedic providers and reinforces the importance of detailed verification support. The focus will be on helping the client manage its order workload, clarify insurance requirements, and give patient service employees more time for the people who rely on them.
