HEALTHCARE COST TRANSPARENCY SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20120054119A1
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Insur I.Q. LLC
• Original Assignee: Insur I.Q. LLC
• Inventors: ZECCHINI, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US12/871,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20120054119A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/347
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Disclosed systems and methods provide healthcare cost transparency by enabling consumers to compare cost information for doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers before obtaining services. In some web-based server embodiments, a database is provided having available providers indexed by location and practice category. The database includes estimated costs for services from each provider, possibly based on past insurance claims submitted by each provider. A front end system provides access to the database, responding to requests for healthcare providers in a given location and practice category with lists that include an indication of costs charged by each of the listed providers relative to other providers. A user'"'"'s selection of an individual provider may result in a detailed information page that includes a list of services and an estimate of the provider'"'"'s fee for each service. The detail page may further include credentials, affiliations, ratings, reviews, and options to set an appointment.

Claims

1. A healthcare cost transparency method that comprises:

receiving a request for provider information, wherein the request indicates a geographic search location; and

providing a response that includes a list of providers that provide services proximate to that location,

wherein the response provides an indication of relative costs charged by individual providers in the list.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the response is formatted for display as a web page.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request further indicates a practice category, and the list includes only providers in that practice category.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the indication of relative cost is a measure of a direction and degree by which the provider'"'"'s costs deviate from an average for providers in that location and practice category.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of relative cost is a measure of a direction and degree by which the provider'"'"'s costs deviate from those of other providers in that location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a provider in the list; and

displaying provider information that includes various services provided by the provider and an estimated cost for each service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the provider information further includes at least one representation of patients'"'"' ratings or satisfaction with that provider.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the provider information further includes the provider'"'"'s credentials and affiliations.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of providers includes doctors.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of providers includes hospitals.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of providers includes pharmacies.

12. A healthcare cost transparency system that comprises:

a database of healthcare providers indexed by location and practice category, wherein the database further includes estimated costs for services from individual healthcare providers;

a front end that responds to requests for healthcare providers in a given location and practice category, wherein at least some of the responses include a list of healthcare providers with an indication of costs charged by individual healthcare providers relative to other healthcare providers.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the response is formatted for display as a web page.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said other healthcare providers each provide healthcare services proximate to the given location.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the indication includes a sorted order of the list.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the indication includes a pictograph indicating whether the healthcare provider'"'"'s costs are in a “

lowest fees”

category, a “

below average”

category, an “

average”

category, an “

above average”

category, or a “

highest fees”

category.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the front end further responds to selections of an individual healthcare provider, the selection responses including a list of services and an estimated cost for each service.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the estimated cost is an out-of-pocket cost that accounts for a user'"'"'s deductible and co-insurance rate.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the selection responses further include consumer reviews of the healthcare provider.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the front end also responds to requests for prescription drug information with prices charged by one or more pharmacies in a specified location.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the list includes an icon for each healthcare provider in the list, and wherein the front end responds to an actuation of the icon by providing appointment information formatted for printing.