I am pleased to announce the new release of OutofPocket.com, version 2.0.  Our new search engine enables consumers to look-up prices for health care services, and allows providers to list their prices/services in the directory - free of charge.  In addition, the search engine features expanded search technology and searches for health care price data across other public price transparency tools.

I welcome all your feedback and comments on this new release and I would appreciate if you could help us spread the word.  As you know, the more people that contribute and use this tool, the more powerful it will become for everyone.

Thank you for all that you do to help promote health care price transparency. 

NEW FEATURES IN OUTOFPOCKET.COM VERSION 2.0

(1) Enhanced search engine provides more relevant search results

(2) Easy for consumers to post/share their own visits and prices they paid for services

(3) Comprehensive search results - searches other websites that publish pricing and websites that offer price transparency tools

PRICE DATA COLLECTED FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES

·         Providers can submit price lists for their services

·         Consumers are invited to post/share prices they paid for actual visits, along with their personal recommendations on the provider

·         Claims Data from Businesses, Health Plans or TPAs

·         Government CMS Medicare payment data

·         Websites that publish prices for health care services including hospitals, diagnostic testing facilities, clinics and physician practices

·         Price Transparency Tools on public websites including health plan tools and state price transparency tools

BENEFITS for BUSINESSES

·         Load your claims data into OutofPocket.com to enable your employees to search for their true out-of-pocket costs for specific service

·         Employees can use OutofPocket.com to search for prices for specific services in your network plan

·         Encourage employees to collaborate and post prices they paid for health care services, to share these good deals with other employees

·         Eliminate providers that overcharge - Use OutofPocket.com to direct your employees to affordable, low-cost providers

·         Avoid providers with poor performance by encouraging employees to share recommendations on provider visits

BENEFITS for CONSUMERS

·         Look-up prices, comparison shop and find the best value for routine health care services in your neighborhood

·         Tool makes it easy for you to post/share prices you paid for actual services with other consumers

·         Share your recommendations on a specific provider with other consumers

BENEFITS for PROVIDERS

·         Add your true prices/services to the directory – free of charge

·         Consumers can easily find your services and link to your website

·         Include additional information about your practice, services

·         Search results links directly to your website

·         Provides additional exposure for your services

The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) offers some great tips for consumers that are interested in comparison shopping for non-emergency hospital services.    The consumer tips provided by the CHCF are based on the results of a recent mystery shopper study conducted at 64 California hospitals.  Here are some of the highlights, but be sure to visit their site to read all the tips. Most important, be sure to ask the right questions before using hospital services.

1.     Call first.  Consumers should call a hospital to obtain pricing information, rather than wait to ask for pricing in-person.

2.     Know the CPT or ICD-9 code.  This is the specific American Medical Association (AMA) code assigned to each medical procedure or service and is used for billing purposes.  It’s actually a lot like a specific part-number for an electronics you purchase.   When you know the specific code (part number), you can compare apples-to-apples.  Once your doctor has explained the service or procedure you need, ask your doctor for the CPT code.  It will save you time and money.

3.     Ask about a discount.  If you don’t ask, it almost certainly won’t be offered.  Find out how much and under what conditions discounts apply.  You might find that paying by cash or using your credit card entitles you to discount.

4.     Find out what’s included.  There’s little consistency among hospitals in terms of the type of prices quoted, making applies-to-applies comparisons difficult.  You should ask as many questions as necessary until you are comfortable with the information about what specific services are included.  If you are not getting the answers you need, ask to talk to someone in Admitting, Financial Counseling, Billing or the Cashier’s Office.