Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Healthcare Blue Book In The News

There is an interesting article in the Tennessean on Nashville based healthcare start ups. See all the articles here.

We were pleased to be included.

Here is part of the story :

Healthcare Blue Book: Making the most of cost comparisons


By Getahn Ward • The Tennessean • May 17, 2009

For years, Kelley Blue Book has been a go-to source for car buyers and sellers who want to gauge the value of vehicles.

Dr. Jeffrey Rice and Bill Kampine hope their Healthcare Blue Book becomes the same type of resource for consumers seeking information on prices of competing health services.

At healthcarebluebook.com, consumers can compare “fair” cash prices that they would expect to pay out-of-pocket for a range of procedures and medical services within their ZIP codes. The company also targets employers with a customized version where employees can see what each provider gets paid and how they rate on quality. The idea is to help patients decide where to seek care.
“It’s to help consumers find the right care from the right provider at the right price,” said Kampine, a co-founder of Healthcare Blue Book.

Companies such as Healthcare Blue Book hope to ride growing interest in more transparency in health care.


Launched in January, Healthcare Blue Book is the latest startup venture for Rice and Kampine. They worked together at CareSteps, a company that’s now part of Healthways, which helped consumers understand their health risks and get care according to evidence-based guidelines.

Healthcare Blue Book gets its revenues through advertising on its free site, including from health-care providers. It charges employers a fee for its customized program.

Rice, the company’s chief executive officer, said the Web site is especially helpful for consumers with high deductibles or limited medical plans that place more of the financial responsibility on them. “If you don’t ask before you get your care, you may be charged three or four times more than the fair price,” he said.

Danielle Gilbert, a Nashville resident enrolled in a high-deductible plan recently used Healthcare Blue Book to get the fair market price for an MRI related to a leg injury. She has started calling around to find a provider willing to accept that price. “If you’re willing to spend a little extra time, it’s a great service,” Gilbert said.

No comments:

Post a Comment