Method for paying for acquisition and use of medical equipment
First Claim
1. A method for determining amounts a health care facility pays for obtaining and use of medical equipment, the medical equipment having one or more functions that are carried out by the equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a price per unit of use time for each function of the medical equipment;
recording an amount of time each function of the medical equipment is used by the health care facility;
computing a function-specific usage billing amount from the amount of time each function of the medical equipment is used and the price per unit of use time; and
, determining a payment amount for the health care facility for a total usage billing amount based on a sum of the function-specific usage billing amounts.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method by which a health care facility pays for the acquisition and use of medical equipment, the medical equipment having one or more functions that are carried out by the equipment, comprises the steps of determining a price per unit of use time for each function of the medical equipment, recording the amount of time each function of the medical equipment is used by the health care facility, computing the usage billing amount from the usage time and the price per unit of use time, and rendering a bill to the health care facility for the usage billing amount. Amounts for disposable/consumable supplies and for maintenance can also be determined.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for determining amounts a health care facility pays for obtaining and use of medical equipment, the medical equipment having one or more functions that are carried out by the equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining a price per unit of use time for each function of the medical equipment;
recording an amount of time each function of the medical equipment is used by the health care facility;
computing a function-specific usage billing amount from the amount of time each function of the medical equipment is used and the price per unit of use time; and
,determining a payment amount for the health care facility for a total usage billing amount based on a sum of the function-specific usage billing amounts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method by which a health care facility obtains and utilizes health care facility equipment from an equipment vendor, the medical equipment having one or more functions that are carried out by the equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
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negotiating one or more of the following, an acquisition cost for the equipment;
a price per unit of time for each function of the equipment; and
a duration of the time the equipment is available to the health care facility;
taking delivery of the equipment;
recording an amount of time each particular function of the equipment is used;
determining a usage billing amount based on the price per unit time and the time each particular function of the equipment is used; and
determining a payment amount for the health care facility from usage billing amounts. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification