Why Patients Are Gaining More Power

If you listen to economic news even a little, you'll soon hear about the importance of consumer spending. "Consumer spending remains a concern" ... "In previous years, consumers would have picked up the slack for the decrease in spending elsewhere," and so forth.

Clearly, everyday people are an important engine for America's economy. As a result, they deserve access to the vital information they need to make smart purchases. For many other products and services, they do. They can check Edmunds when considering a car, or Consumer Reports when shopping for appliances or other purchases, large and small. They can check the estimated value of homes on Zillow while looking for a new house. And they can download coupons and find other discounts online for smaller items.

Unfortunately, when it comes to getting the information that helps them be savvy shoppers for one of the most expensive needs they could ever have -- a surgery or other major medical intervention -- consumers have traditionally been out of luck. Fortunately, that's changing.

At the end of my book, "The New Prescription," I urge readers to constantly be looking for reputable sources of information to help them compare prices of health care goods and services, and I predicted that more and more of these would become available in coming years. As this Wall Street Journal piece attests, this field is indeed evolving rapidly.

Many Americans are getting their health coverage through high-deductible plans these days, so they have a newfound interest in seeking bargains, since they're responsible for the first outlay of money for their medical care each year (in some cases, many thousands of dollars).

The WSJ piece discussed a number of services that people can access -- some of which are available to employees or customers of companies who use the service. Others are freely available online.

If you're planning an upcoming procedure or you're facing a health threat that will require significant medical care, it's in your best interest to get your hands on as much of this information as possible -- especially if you have a high-deductible plan.

Services that may be useful, which were discussed in the Wall Street Journal story, include:
• Castlight Health
• FAIR health
• Change:healthcare
• Healthcare Blue Book

It's also a good idea to see if you can get pricing information through your employer's human resources department or from your insurer.

Is it a good idea to base your medical decisions solely on getting the cheapest price? I say no.

Is it wise to spend more for an identical service if you can save 20 percent or more? Also, no -- especially if you enjoy directing your consumer spending toward purchases that are more fun.

For more on how to get better health and need the health care system less, check out Dr. Cynthia Haines' book, "The New Prescription: How to Get the Best Health Care in a Broken System" (HCI Books, Dr. Cynthia Haines and Eric Metcalf). This is a book about getting what you really want: better health on your own terms. More medical care doesn't mean better health. Dr. Cynthia Haines and Metcalf reveal some of the most egregious problems with a medical system gone awry, opening readers' eyes to how to better navigate the changes underway. Using solid research, insiders' insights, and patient anecdotes, they offer cost-effective and potentially life-saving ways to get more out of health care while using less of it. Find Dr. Cynthia Haines on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/DrCindyHaines, the Dr. Cynthia Haines YouTube channel, and www.drcindyhaines.com.

 

 

 

Follow Dr. Cindy Haines on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drcindyhaines

Comments

[SuzyScorp]

08:14 AM on 08/28/2011

What I really wanted President Obama to include in the Health Care Reform was the amount of time a patient has to sit in the waiting room, then waiting in the examining room... Doctors usually charge you for missed appts, or even if you're extremely late and can't see you... Well, I've been in the situation where I went to the dr., during my hour-long lunch break and it turns out I was in the waiting room for over an hour and in the examining room for almost 30 minutes. I had to leave. I didn't want to get fired, so I chose to leave the doctor and go back to work. In that situation, the doctor should owe you a payment, or a partial payment for my precious time, as it's as precious as any doctor!!

[drwds]

07:22 AM on 08/28/2011

The article suggests shopping for price if you have a large deductible. One problem with this logic is that it is not what a physician or hospital charges, but rather what the insurance is willing to pay. It is the amount paid that is applied to your deductible.

[On My Way 58]

05:13 PM on 08/27/2011

Price shopping has its place in the medical world. However, one must also carefully compare what is included in that price and make a well-informed decision.

An example is that most of my doctors belong to the same group. The upside is that they communicate with each other more readily, I don't have to remember who did what, drag records here and there or keep starting at the beginning of what is happening in a complicated illness. The downside is that cost is a bit higher.

I also always go to the same hospital, even though it is not the nearest to my home, because they have a full history and are able to access past tests and reports, and the added bonus that they work with all the doctors in my medical group.

Of course, not everyone is so complicated. If you are receiving the same quality services, price can vary enough to make it worthwhile to price shop.

[specialsmile50]

04:37 PM on 08/27/2011

This is the only thing that I was hoping for when President Obama pushed for health care reform.We know costs are rising and will continue unless, just like the debt....we bring it to light,get people talking and getting mad about it.I still don't know how an hour in the hospital for colinoscopy(no idea about spelling) could cost $4500.00.My mother had to have a stint put in a year ago.We had the chance to see one.There is no way in my world I can see why chicken wire and cloth could cost $20,000.00. Just saying it's time to visit this issue and stop blaming the Pres. for out of control prices.

[Debi Kelly Van Cleave]

07:11 PM on 08/27/2011

I agree with you. This is one thing the president is trying to stop--the abuses. We are obviously being held hostage because what can you do? Go to the other store down the road? My husband just needed a simple ultrasound. It took ten minutes. $1300. later... And by the way, for that one procedure, we were also double-billed. If there was something seriously wrong and he got many procedures, we probably wouldn't have caught that.

[spunkyphd]

09:33 AM on 08/28/2011

I agree the machines are expensive, but the number of people who are using them and the short time it takes for most procedures.? The buildings have many other people, machines and offices under one roof, they share office administrators or whatever the new word is for secretaries, clerks, payroll and HR if large enough so when you break down the cost of their education, machines, taxes, and regular business expenses I don't understand how 10 min can cost 1,300. Where is this money going, maybe it's just me but I wish there was a step before court, a legal consumer advocate lawer who has no way of being bought by either side who could hear cases of people who want to sue the medical system or doctor and decide if the case has true merit or not. I know there are good causes to sue but there seems to be too much too. If malpractice costs went down would the prices go down at all? Midwives have to carry almost as much malpractice as the doc who delivers the high risk babies. At least in my state and they are not allowed to handle any thing close to high risk pregnancy. For both Dr and midwives the malpractice insurance is so high few are going into that field and for a tech country we now have a poor healthy birth rate and prenatal care because of the insurance the docs have to carry.

[Debi Kelly Van Cleave]

05:18 PM on 08/28/2011

I had my daughters at a birthing center in Princeton. The first one in 1983. We were one of their first clients. The second one in 1996. We were one of their last clients. Familyborn had to close down because even though it was safer to have a baby with them, malpractice insurance became unaffordable. Makes me sad my daughters won't have that option and will be forced to either have babies at home or go to a germ-ridden hospital for sick people.

[jet7401]

06:13 AM on 08/28/2011

it is so easy to blame someone else (Pres) 3rd party HMOs is big time business now - my Doctor's group has a huge depart that deals with billing and scheduling - the fees are ever increasing but am wondering how much actually gets to the Docs. My niece (a MD) sez over 3/4 goes to admin and liab costs - and we wonder why the Docs only spend 10 -15 mins / patient....

[Alan626]

04:31 PM on 08/27/2011

Interesting article.
That said, my wife has been wishing to get Lasik Surgery to correct her vision, but has been prohibited by the cost of the procedure. She is a smart person, and I sincerely doubt that a TV ad announcing "Lasik Surgery - while-you-wait - now only $29.95 per eye!" is going to make her race out and have it done. At that price, the procedure is probably being performed by a guy who calls himself "Dr. Qick-stop," wears a wife-beater t-shirt and does the "surgery" in the back of a rusted 1973 Dodge van behind a strip club in Pacoima.
Usually, the lowball price isn't your best bet. The cheapest surgeon in town probably graduated in the bottom of his/her class and can't provide quality work, hence the bargain-basement price. Results set the pricing in most cases. Those with a record of providing the finest service are in a position to charge more, so they do. Those who can't provide quality work charge less, because they must.
Caveat Emptor, especially when it comes to medical treatment.

[dbdel]

11:33 PM on 08/27/2011

Somewhere there are federal statistics (probably gathered by Dept of Health and Human Services) that provide comparative results of procedures as performed by various hospitals (and, perhaps, physicians). As part of this there also might be some cost comparisons. I can't tell you where to start looking, but I guess googling some relevant phrases should be a good start.

[Emily Kaminski]

03:14 PM on 08/27/2011

I have a high deductible plan and even though these are getting more common, it is still a huge pain to find out what something costs. Providers don't know and even have told a good friend of mine this week that the information was proprietary. I doubt that, but still. I agree that price should not be the only consideration, but it should be a consideration.

I've been researching retail pharmacy prices for my site http://www.frugalpharmacies.com/ and I've found huge variations in those prices. Why would I pay double or even more for the same thing? Answer: I didn't know I could save by choosing a different pharmacy.

[On My Way 58]

04:57 PM on 08/27/2011

Since you are doing research, you might also be interested to know that pharmacies within a retail chain will provide different pricing. I live beween two branches of a national chain, and depending on the medication, sometimes one is more expensive while sometimes the other is drastically more expensive.

[Emily Kaminski]

10:15 PM on 08/28/2011

Hmmm, I've noticed differences, but not usually drastic ones between different stores in the same chain. That's interesting that you did and I'll keep my eyes open. I have had the occasional store that could not consistently quote the price of the exact medication when I called several times on the same day. I'd be curious to know which med that happened to you with and you could send it to me at emily at frugalpharmacies dot com. (typed this way to avoid spam bots!)

[spunkyphd]

09:39 AM on 08/28/2011

There are also pharmacies poping up that do not accept any insurance and keep their prices low that way. I get all my non-covered medications from there, the price is sometimes less than half of what I was paying before.

[Emily Kaminski]

10:17 PM on 08/28/2011

I've seen those and they can be a great deal. Sometimes a regular pharmacy can still beat them though. Costco can offer some amazing deals as can some of the other places' promotional lists. Independent places can come out really well sometimes too. It's a pain that it's not a simple, consistent answer, but I have not found it to be.

[Susan Orlins]

03:32 PM on 08/25/2011

Regardless of what doctor you choose, I suggest questioning everything. Why are you prescribing this? What are the alternatives? What are the risks? What if I do nothing?

Worry along with me about health and tons more on my blog www.confessionsofaworrywart.com

[Alan626]

04:36 PM on 08/27/2011

I was with you right up until I saw you were just spamming for your blog. I have a blog, but I don't use this or any other forum to try to boost my readership. Shameless self-promotion is one of the things that has bloggers being viewed with almost universal derision.

[dbdel]

11:37 PM on 08/27/2011

I didn't think of Susan's comment as shameless promotion until I read your comment. As I now think about it, you could be correct, given the .com nature (with advertisements on every page, I suppose). However, the site might still be a good source of information and commentary.