Health Care: Make An Offer On PriceDoc

Remember the days of travel agencies, with brightly decorated offices and exotic posters of far off places? It was the only way to book a trip. Yet, in a few short years, the entire field has been replaced by Expedia, Orbitz and other sites for individuals to find the best price, and book it themselves. A total paradigm change that is here to stay.

Guess what: health care is going in the same direction, and just in time -- with or without government backed plans, or insurance companies who deny care, and rip off doctors. Almost 46 million Americans, from our youth to elders and veterans, don't have health insurance, and millions more carry high deductibles. No one knows the true cost of health care services, and the public certainly does not have a way to find a doctor who offers services at a reduced fee, right?

Wrong. Not as of this week. A brand new company, PriceDoc, is hitting the national market, and is sure to transform everyday health care with the same momentum that brought us Google, Facebook or Priceline. Move over William Shatner! PriceDoc's website gives patients greater power as healthcare consumers by identifying local providers, reviewing credentials and patient referrals, and finding competitive pricing for high-quality healthcare.

By advertising their services and prices on PriceDoc, healthcare providers gain access to "cash-paying" patients who optimize their office scheduling, secure fees for service and offer cash payments that reduce paperwork and overhead costs. Services include dental, vision, chiropractic, and general care. PriceDoc has stringent guidelines to attract high quality doctors and health providers who are willing to offer reduced fees for the same level of care.

George Halvorson, Chairman and CEO of Kaiser wrote a blog for Huff Po this week called We Need an Orbitz for Health," and while he may have been referring to the government, his concept is right on. He said,

Real competition between the best caregivers can happen if those exchanges are set up appropriately and if the real goal is for the provider participants in the exchanges to compete in meaningful ways.

I had a chance to personally interview a few folks who have used PriceDoc during the preliminary launch in Seattle. Katie Kyser is a new mom who left her job, and the health insurance that came with it, because she wanted to stay home with her baby. "We felt, as a family, that it was more important for me to be home to raise our baby at this time, than for me to be gone - just to have insurance coverage."

Kyser needed an OB/GYN, so she called around, and the price for a general visit was $200-400; including Planned Parenthood. After seeing an ad for PriceDoc, she logged in, punched in her zip code, and instantly was able to research a variety of doctors. She selected a well respected women's clinic that would see her for $75.

At first I was skeptical that such a low price meant low quality. However, the clinic was immaculate, the staff was amazing and the quality was much better than the super expensive health care group I used to use.

Medina Blanchette, the nurse practitioner at Woodinville Women's Clinic, said their practice listed their top services, at a significant discount. This concept is wonderful and really is a win-win," she said. "We have found it builds a very positive relationship with our new patients right from the start."

After a positive experience at the women's clinic, life moved on, and Kyser lost a crown in her tooth. She went to a local dentist, who said the tooth would have to be removed, and it would cost over $1000. Panicked, she went to PriceDoc, conducted a thorough search, and found a reputable dentist who would remove it for $175. "I have found there is absolutely no difference in quality, and I am so confident I am willing to use their services on my own child."

Shane Harris is a craftsman for traveling Renaissance Fairs, has not had health insurance in decades, and is not computer savvy. He has experienced severe dental pain for over five years, and could not afford to have it addressed.

Normally, my only option to find a doc is to open the yellow pages, throw a dart, and that's it. But, I saw an ad for PriceDoc, and was surprised I could get on the site easily. I needed a dentist who specializes in tooth implants - because not having any teeth may look good in a medieval show, but not in real life!

Harris found a well qualified dentist, Dr. Swanlund, with specialty training, good credentials and positive endorsements. During his appointment, the dentist found a deep abscess, extracted four teeth and replaced a root canal- for a mere $1086. "All I can say is being out of pain for the first time in five years is euphoric."

Check out both Dr. Swanlund and Shane Harris in this news clip from October:

A few weeks later, Harris found himself battling an excruciating ear infection - and returned to PriceDoc for help. "When I get sick like that, normally I have no choice but to go to a 'doc in the box' or the ER. And with all this flu going around that is the last place I wanted to go."

He found a solo practice physician within ten miles of his home.

This doc was amazing. He could have easily just given me a prescription for antibiotics and thrown me out the door, but instead he spent over an hour clearing my ears to get me out of pain before the meds -- and only charged me $113.

What a refreshing change of pace to hear positive stories from 'Main Street' about health care. Doctors aren't the bad guys -- they really want to help people far more than they want to run complicated businesses. Patients want to find someone they can trust, and are happy to pay a price they believe is fair.

PriceDoc is opening up to cities across the country, and the site includes a blog and Facebook page with interesting health related stories, and regular updates on Twitter. Check it out and encourage your health care providers to participate. Maybe they need to run a contest for the best celebrity spokesperson?

How about you, Huff Po readers? What creative ways have you found to get health care needs met? Feel free to comment below.

 

Follow Kari Henley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/karihenley

Comments

[CaveatMagnusFrater]

Hi Kari,

I sure hope Price Doc succeeds. The health insurance industry is as large as the healthcare industry and one can only assume that when only 1/2 the people in the combined industry actually perform healthcare, lots of money goes to profiteers rather than producers. The obvious conclusion is that people cannot afford healthcare because greedy bastards found a way to line their pockets at the expense of the sick. GO PRICEDOC and everyone else fighting the good fight to protect the vulnerable from the tyrants.

much respect,
little brother

[Dr. Cara Barker - Huffpost Blogger]

Kari, you are my 'go-to-girl,' for the latest happening that merits attention. Although I live in the
Greater Seattle area, I'd not heard of this resource. Bravo. It's time has come. Maybe they'll even lead to a great price on mammograms for women not yet 50. While this is not me, I am acutely aware of the need.

Great work, as usual, Kari.

Love,
Cara

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

yes! check it out! I will be most curious what you find, and if it is helpful. You have so many clients with children who may benefit from saving some money, and finding a good quality medical provider.
Maybe you can be the first Jungian analyst to be listed as well!
:)
Kari

[KKOLLSKI]

Kari -

I think that PriceDoc is a very powerful tool and is long overdue. It finally provides the consumer with ways to find the service or care care within the terms they want and at a competitive price. This is truly is a simple concept and is why I believe it is so pewerful!

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Kari,

Count on you to be on the cutting edge of new possibilities! A brilliant concept and judging from the comments here, a service that is already making a difference.

Thanks much for making us aware of a powerful new to engage with the healthcare system.

Much love,
Judith

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

Nice to see you back Tiara Queenie! Missed you on these pages...
thanks! I am glad to see some good news and health care in the same sentence for a change of pace....
Kari

[Jason Mannino - Huffpost Blogger]

kari

This is awesome! Thanks for covering this for us! I am going to check out the site right now!

Jason

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Jason!
Great to see you, and I think there is a lot of traffic happening in CA already!
K

[Wayne Guerra MD]

Great idea and service. Patients need price transparency but they also need help knowing what to search. For help evaluating symptoms, learning more about the possible causes and finding the right facility and doctors visit www.itriagehealth.com.

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi there
Great site! I have found some really interesting sites during the preparation of this article. Another good one is www.sharecare.com
It is great to see the wave of entrepreneurism moving forward in troubled times with life boats the public can actually use and benefit from!
Take care
kari

[dryrock]

This may indeed be a sign of the times. I know in my area people have started using barter/trade, so this seems a logical step. Whatever it takes to get people the care they need.

[Sharon Corcoran]

This is great- This is the similiar to what a single payer option would accomplish. Get the insurance companies out of the way. I spoke with a Doctor last week he just stopped taking Blue Cross- he said it wasn't worth the hassle. too much paperwork and he had to wait up to a year to get paid. I was told by an insurance sales person that a year is the average wait time for reimbursement. How can anyone run a practice with that kind of stress..

[BlueHorde]

How is this "similar" to single payer?

It is pay for service. No pay - No Service. Hey, it's great to be able to find lower prices, and in time that could introduce an actual free market to the health sector and bring medical inflation in line with the rest of the economy. But don't kid yourselves that this is an alternative to heath care reform or universal coverage.

[BlueHorde]

What a marvelous resource for people who don't live in a civilized western nation.

[BowlingForRevenge]

I will retract my previous comment.
While there was dental available in N. Texas there is zero medical.
Maybe soon? I hope so.

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi bowling!
The site just opened up in the US a couple of days- so I would not expect a ton of physicians to be up and running- but keep checking back- and share the site with physicians you normally use so they are aware of it. Some procedures are available for a national search- such as cosmetic where a plane trip in exchange for a great surgeon and a great price is worth it.

[BowlingForRevenge]

I'm at the sight right now!
This is AMAZING!

PriceDoc.com is up and running in N.Texas!

[GermanGoodness]

One more comment, Kari. We need to get this article to the top of HP so other readers are aware of the program. I will spread the word as best I can.

[GermanGoodness]

I've used PriceDoc.com. On the plus side, they led me to a wonderful group called Qliance which is a VERY low cost primary care membership group in the Seattle area. Think along the lines of a concierge doctor, but only for primary care.

On the negative side, PriceDoc also gave me quotes for doctors who did not treat my condition (hypothyroid).

I think it's a great service, but it does need to be refined just a bit.

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Kari,

What a wonderful resource to read about! I am so happy that this service is being offered. PriceDoc.com reaffirms my trust in human ingenuity to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. We live in an amazing world.

Thank you very much for being one to spread the word about PriceDoc.com.

With love,
Anne

[SarahPDX]

Thanks for the news about PriceDoc.com! I am excited that there is finally an easy way for me to a doctor in my area and review their prices for the procedures they offer. I have usually depended on calling different offices in my area trying to find out pricing information but it is inefficient, sometimes unsuccessful and completely exhausting! It’s about time that technology has started to make things easier for people with healthcare needs!