Dynamic optimal connectivity path

1. A method for dynamically determining an optimum connectivity path associated with a plurality of connectivity sources, the method comprising:

using a clearinghouse as part of ranking the plurality of connectivity sources associated with a payer based on connection stability, pricing, and data quality that includes consideration of comprehensiveness of payer data provided by each of the plurality of connectivity sources, wherein the clearinghouse uses redundant connections to the payer data via the plurality of connectivity sources, wherein the clearinghouse ranks a connectivity source having a less-stable connection and which provides less comprehensive payer data lower than a connectivity source having a stable connection and which provides comprehensive payer data;

storing the ranking of each of the plurality of connectivity sources in a database;

updating the database in real-time or near real-time as transactions associated with one or more of the plurality of connectivity sources are being processed;

receiving a request for information comprising benefit and eligibility information associated with healthcare services via the clearinghouse for the payer;

using the ranking to identify a first connectivity source associated with the payer to which to send the request for information in order to provide the benefit and eligibility information associated with the payer;

determining if the first connectivity source is currently available;

sending the request for information to the first connectivity source when the first connectivity source is currently available in order to provide the benefit and eligibility information associated with the payer;

sequentially identifying a second connectivity source associated with the payer according to the ranking that is currently available when the first connectivity source is currently unavailable; and

sending the request for information to the second connectivity source when the second connectivity source is currently available in order to provide the benefit and eligibility information associated with the payer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the first connectivity source associated with the payer to which to send the request for information comprises identifying a connectivity source designated as a primary connectivity source, wherein the primary connectivity source has a highest ranking amongst the plurality of connectivity sources.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein sequentially identifying the second connectivity source comprises identifying a next highest ranking connectivity source amongst the plurality of connectivity sources.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the clearinghouse as part of ranking the plurality of connectivity sources according to metrics comprising connection stability information, cost information, and quality of data information.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing, in the database, information about whether a connection to a connectivity source is available, information about whether a connection to a connectivity source is unavailable, and whether responses to requests are being received but are delayed, wherein determining if the first connectivity source is currently available comprises querying the database for availability information associated with the primary connectivity source.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

determining if a response from the first connectivity source to which the request for information was sent is received;

evaluating the response and updating the database with metrics data associated with the first connectivity source when the response from the first connectivity source is determined to be received, wherein the evaluating of the response includes evaluating a response time, the data quality, and a transaction cost associated with the first connectivity source; and

when the response from the first connectivity source is determined not to be received:

updating the database with information that the first connectivity source is currently unavailable;

sequentially determining a next highest ranking connectivity source that is currently available; and

sending the request for information to the next highest ranking connectivity source when the next highest ranking connectivity source is determined to be currently available.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising pinging the first connectivity source until a determination is made that the first connectivity source is currently available when the response from the first connectivity source is not received.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising if the next highest ranking connectivity source that is currently available is not determined:

placing the request for information in a queue; and

when a connectivity source is determined to be currently available, sending the request for information to the currently available connectivity source.

9. A system for dynamically determining an optimum connectivity path associated with a plurality of connectivity sources, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processor coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processor is operable to:

use a clearinghouse to rank the plurality of connectivity sources associated with a payer based on connection stability, pricing, and data quality that includes consideration of comprehensiveness of payer data provided by each of the plurality of connectivity sources, wherein the clearinghouse uses redundant connections to the payer data via the plurality of connectivity sources, wherein the clearinghouse ranks a connectivity source having a less-stable connection and which provides less comprehensive payer data lower than a connectivity source having a stable connection and which provides comprehensive payer data;

store the ranking of each of the plurality of connectivity sources in a database;

update the database in real-time or near real-time as transactions associated with one or more of the plurality of connectivity sources are being processed;

receive a request for information comprising benefit and eligibility information associated with healthcare services via the clearinghouse for the payer;

use the ranking as part of identify a first connectivity source associated with the payer to which to send the request for information including identifying a connectivity source designated as a primary connectivity source having a highest ranking amongst the plurality of connectivity sources in order to provide the benefit and eligibility information associated with the payer;

determine if the first connectivity source is currently available;

send the request for information to the first connectivity source when the first connectivity source is currently available in order to provide the benefit and eligibility information associated with the payer;

sequentially identify a second connectivity source associated with the payer according to the ranking that is currently available when the first connectivity source is currently unavailable, wherein the second connectivity source is a next highest ranking connectivity source amongst the plurality of connectivity sources; and

send the request for information to the second connectivity source when the second connectivity source is currently available in order to provide the benefit and eligibility information associated with the payer.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is operable to use the clearinghouse to rank the plurality of connectivity sources according to metrics comprising connection stability information, cost information, and quality of data information.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor, in determining if the first connectivity source is currently available, is operable to query the database for availability information associated with the primary connectivity source.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine if a response from the first connectivity source to which the request for information was sent is received;

evaluate the response and update the database with metrics data associated with the connectivity source when the response from the first connectivity source is determined to be received; and

when the response from the first connectivity source is determined not to be received:

update the database with information that the first connectivity source is currently unavailable;

sequentially determine a next highest ranking connectivity source that is currently available; and

send the request for information to the next highest ranking connectivity source when the next highest ranking connectivity source is determined to be currently available.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further operable to ping the first connectivity source until a determination is made that the first connectivity source is currently available.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein if the next highest ranking connectivity source that is currently available is not determined, the processor is further operable to:

place the request for information in a queue; and

when a connectivity source is determined to be currently available, send the request for information to the currently available connectivity source.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions which, when executed, perform a method of dynamically determining an optimum connectivity path associated with a plurality of connectivity sources comprising:

using a clearinghouse as part of ranking the plurality of connectivity sources associated with a payer based on connection stability, pricing, and data quality that includes consideration of comprehensiveness of payer data provided by each of the plurality of connectivity sources, wherein the clearinghouse uses redundant connections to the payer data via the plurality of connectivity sources, wherein the clearinghouse ranks a connectivity source having a less-stable connection and which provides less comprehensive payer data lower than a connectivity source having a stable connection and which provides comprehensive payer data;

storing the ranking of each of the plurality of connectivity sources in a database;

updating the database in real-time or near real-time as transactions associated with one or more of the plurality of connectivity sources are being processed;

receiving a request for information comprising benefit and eligibility information associated with healthcare services via the clearinghouse for the payer;

using the ranking to identify a first connectivity source associated with the payer to which to send the request for information including identifying a connectivity source designated as a primary connectivity source having a highest ranking amongst the plurality of connectivity sources in order to provide the benefit and eligibility information associated with the payer;

determining if the first connectivity source is currently available;

sending the request for information to the first connectivity source when the first connectivity source is currently available in order to provide the benefit and eligibility information associated with the payer;

sequentially identifying a second connectivity source associated with the payer according to the ranking that is currently available when the first connectivity source is currently unavailable, wherein the second connectivity source is a next highest ranking connectivity source amongst the plurality of connectivity sources; and

sending the request for information to the second connectivity source when the second connectivity source is currently available in order to provide the benefit and eligibility information associated with the payer.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein determining if the first connectivity source is currently available comprises querying the database for availability information associated with the primary connectivity source.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising using the clearinghouse as part of ranking the plurality of connectivity sources according to metrics comprising connection stability information, cost information, and quality of data information.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining if a response from the first connectivity source to which the request for information was sent is received;

evaluating the response and updating the database with metrics data associated with the first connectivity source when the response from the first connectivity source is determined to be received, wherein the evaluating of the response includes evaluating a response time, the data quality, and a transaction cost associated with the first connectivity source; and

when the response from the first connectivity source is determined not to be received:

updating the database with information that the first connectivity source is currently unavailable;

sequentially determining a next highest ranking connectivity source that is currently available; and

sending the request for information to the next highest ranking connectivity source when the next highest ranking connectivity source is determined to be currently available.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising pinging the first connectivity source until a determination is made that the first connectivity source is currently available when the response from the first connectivity source is not received.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising if the next highest ranking connectivity source that is currently available is not determined:

placing the request for information in a queue; and

when a connectivity source is determined to be currently available, sending the request for information to the currently available connectivity source.