Business method and system for providing an on-line healthcare market exchange for procuring and financing medical services and products
First Claim
1. In an on-line transaction processing system implemented over a publicly accessible communications network such as the Internet, said transaction system comprising a web-site server computer system and a plurality of databases for maintaining at least information relating to conducting and processing on-line transactions, an on-line computerized method for marketing and auctioning medical/healthcare services and products, comprising:
- providing an interactive Internet accessible medical/healthcare services transaction processing web-site hosted by at least one computer of said server computer system that is connected to said communications network, said web-site serving as a comprehensive on-line healthcare marketplace for obtaining healthcare services or products wherein a user of said network is enabled to participate in one or more on-line auctions through a process of bidding or other price negotiation procedures to obtain proffered healthcare products or services.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An on-line health market exchange (HME) service method and system is provided which, in addition to hosting an on-line medical services auctioning system, includes interactive tools for arranging financing of successful bids, performing on-line research of proffered services and providers, as well as participating on-line in other healthcare related negotiations and transactions. The on-line HME system provides an Internet accessible web-site that acts as a “one stop” full service on-line marketplace for use by healthcare service providers and prospective consumers/patients for negotiating and consummating transactions for proffered medical/healthcare services and products. The on-line HME service also provides Internet access to customized proprietary databases and interactive tools for obtaining credentials information and for conducting on-line research concerning prospective healthcare service providers/facilities, and for making on-line payments/arrangements for healthcare/medical service financing. A personal “healthcard” product and service, analogous to a conventional debit/credit card, is supported by the HME service and made available to eligible members/users. On-line resources for reviewing and procuring various types of insurance coverage for performed medical services are also made available.
163 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In an on-line transaction processing system implemented over a publicly accessible communications network such as the Internet, said transaction system comprising a web-site server computer system and a plurality of databases for maintaining at least information relating to conducting and processing on-line transactions, an on-line computerized method for marketing and auctioning medical/healthcare services and products, comprising:
providing an interactive Internet accessible medical/healthcare services transaction processing web-site hosted by at least one computer of said server computer system that is connected to said communications network, said web-site serving as a comprehensive on-line healthcare marketplace for obtaining healthcare services or products wherein a user of said network is enabled to participate in one or more on-line auctions through a process of bidding or other price negotiation procedures to obtain proffered healthcare products or services. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An on-line healthcare market exchange (HME) system implemented over a publicly accessible digital communications network, said system enabling one or more healthcare providers to proffer healthcare services and products to one or more users connected to said network, said system comprising:
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a computer system connected to a publicly accessible communications network;
a computer-readable storage device connected to said computer system for storing one or more information databases, including at least one database containing information concerning registered bidders, at least one database containing information concerning registered service providers, and at least one database containing information concerning financial institutions; and
a mechanism for controlling said computer system for maintaining said information databases and for causing the computer system to provide an interactive on-line medical/healthcare services transaction processing web-site accessible via said network and which serves as a comprehensive healthcare marketplace for vending and obtaining healthcare services and products, wherein an on-line user of said web-site services is enabled to participate in on-line auctions for proffered healthcare services. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing an Internet accessible healthcare market exchange (HME), comprising:
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providing at least one server computer system in communication with the Internet, said computer system comprising one or more servers and a plurality of databases for maintaining identification information and other data relating to on-line users and healthcare/medical service providers, said one or more servers hosting an interactive on-line healthcare services transaction processing web-site wherein a user of the Internet is enabled to conduct one or more transactions on-line via said web-site to obtain proffered healthcare products or services; and
using said server computer system to provide an Internet accessible web-site, said web-site functioning as an on-line healthcare market exchange for processing negotiations between one or more on-line users and one or more healthcare service/product providers. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for providing an Internet accessible healthcare market exchange (HME) service, comprising:
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providing at least one server computer system in communication with the Internet, said server comprising a bidding arbitration engine for conducting an on-line auction for medical/healthcare services and products;
using said server computer system to provide an Internet accessible web-site for functioning as an on-line healthcare market exchange for conducting negotiations between one or more on-line prospective patients/customers and one or more healthcare service/product providers, said server presenting on-line offerings and bids for medical/healthcare services and products via said website. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus for implementing an Internet accessible healthcare market exchange (HME), comprising:
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at least one server computer having an interface for communicating over the Internet;
at least one bidding arbitration engine;
a plurality of database search engines; and
a plurality of secure databases;
wherein an interactive on-line medical/healthcare services transaction processing web-site is implemented by said server computer, said web-site serving as a on-line healthcare market exchange for enabling one or more entities to participate in business transactions related to medical/healthcare services and products.
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Specification