Auctioning Provider Prices

• US 20090089084A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schoenberg, Roy
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a computer-based system for connecting consumers with providers in real time over the Internet, requested compensation amounts from a plurality of providers. The method also includes displaying a price associated with consulting with a particular provider to a consumer on a user interface, the price being based at least in part on the requested compensation amount received from the provider.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a computer-based system for connecting consumers with providers in real time over the Internet, requested compensation amounts from a plurality of providers,

displaying a price associated with consulting with a particular provider to a consumer on a user interface, the price being based at least in part on the requested compensation amount received from the provider.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the requested compensation amount from the plurality of medical services providers comprises:

receiving a first requested compensation amount from a first provider; and

receiving a second requested compensation amount from a second provider, the second requested compensation amount being different than the first requested compensation amount.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the consumer, a selection of one of the first provider or the second provider; and

providing a communication channel to establish a communication between the consumer and the selected one of the first provider or the second provider.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing to a non-selected one of the first provider the second provider an indication of the requested compensation of the selected provider.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from a consumer to consult with a provider having a profile that satisfies at least some attributes;

identifying one or more providers satisfying at least some of the attributes in the request from the consumer;

displaying the identified one or more providers to the consumer on a user interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein displaying the identified one or more providers to the consumer on the user interface comprises:

sorting the identified one or more providers based on a cost to the consumer; and

displaying the identified one or more providers in an order based, at least in part, on the cost to the consumer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving a requested compensation amount from a particular provider, comparing the requested compensation amount of the particular provider to an average compensation amount; and

if the requested compensation is above a threshold greater than the average compensation amount providing an indication to the particular provider; and

allowing the particular provider to provide an updated requested compensation amount.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the price comprises displaying the requested compensation amount for a particular provider.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the price comprises:

displaying the requested compensation amount for a particular provider; and

displaying a portion of the requested compensation amount covered by insurance.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an insurance carrier associated with the consumer;

determining an amount the insurance carrier will pay for a service;

updating the price displayed to the consumer based on the amount the insurance carrier will pay for the service.

11. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

receive, at a computer-based system for connecting consumers with providers in real time over the Internet, requested compensation amounts from a plurality of providers, and

display a price associated with consulting with a particular provider to a consumer on a user interface, the price being based at least in part on the requested compensation amount received from the provider.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising instructions to:

provide to a non-selected provider an indication of the requested compensation of a selected provider.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising instructions to:

receive a request from a consumer to consult with a provider having a profile that satisfies at least some attributes;

identify one or more providers satisfying at least some of the attributes in the request from the consumer;

display the identified one or more providers to the consumer on a user interface.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising instructions to:

sort the identified one or more providers based on a cost to the consumer; and

display the identified one or more providers in an order based, at least in part, on the cost to the consumer.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising instructions to:

upon receiving a requested compensation amount from a particular provider, compare the requested compensation amount of the particular provider to an average compensation amount; and

if the requested compensation is above a threshold greater than the average compensation amount provide an indication to the particular provider; and

allow the particular provider to provide an updated requested compensation amount.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising instructions to:

determine an insurance carrier associated with the consumer;

determine an amount the insurance carrier will pay for a service;

update the price displayed to the consumer based on the amount the insurance carrier will pay for the service.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to;

receive, at a computer-based system for connecting consumers with providers in real time over the Internet, requested compensation amounts from a plurality of providers, and

display a price associated with consulting with a particular provider to a consumer on a user interface, the price being based at least in part on the requested compensation amount received from the provider.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising instructions to:

providing to a non-selected provider an indication of the requested compensation of a selected provider.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising instructions to:

receive a request from a consumer to consult with a provider having a profile that satisfies at least some attributes;

identify one or more providers satisfying at least some of the attributes in the request from the consumer;

sort the identified one or more providers based on a cost to the consumer; and

display the identified one or more providers in an order based, at least in part, on the cost to the consumer.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising instructions to:

upon receiving a requested compensation amount from a particular provider, compare the requested compensation amount of the particular provider to an average compensation amount; and

if the requested compensation is above a threshold greater than the average compensation amount provide an indication to the particular provider; and

allow the particular provider to provide an updated requested compensation amount.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising instructions to:

determine an insurance carrier associated with the consumer;

determine an amount the insurance carrier will pay for a service;

update the price displayed to the consumer based on the amount the insurance carrier will pay for the service.