In an effort to reign in cost and solve the issue of the surprise bill by the Trump administration, CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) has proposed new requirements for price transparency. What will that mean to the healthcare industry?
Compliance with a new federal regulation requires understanding the implications of the directive and how it relates to the current work flow so as not to incur penalties. It is a familiar routine for most hospital networks and physician groups, and one that usually incurs significant cost and resources to properly implement. In addition, there is already significant push back from hospital associations who don’t necessarily want to share their privately negotiated rates.
The Consumer Healthcare Mindset
But the future of healthcare is in the hands of the consumer. Because of rising deductibles and prohibitive costs, more patients are paying directly for their care. Furthermore, patients are looking for more convenient and economical options – and technology is providing the answer.
UBERDOC Solution To Price Transparency
Direct-to-consumer models like UBERDOC, can offer patients immediate access to specialty care, both in person or through telemedicine, and for a single, transparent price set just above the Medicare allowable. UBERDOC is a growing network of doctors who agree to price transparency. The best part, doctors participate for free, which means for the first time, compliance with a new regulation won’t add to the price of care.
We have managed care and network restrictions because the costs are so high we have to put so much more bureaucracy on this. Whats happened inevitably? Price transparency is gone because the customer is no longer the patient–its the employer, and the patient is a further distance from the care giver
Watch Dr. Muto’s full Telehealth Secrets talk on restoring the patient-provider relationship here.
About
Paula Muto, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the founder and CEO of UBERDOC, and the Director of the Vein Center at Mutosurgical. A graduate of Amherst College and New York Medical College, Dr. Muto is a fellowship-trained vascular surgeon by specialty who also practices general surgery.
UBERDOC is the first Direct-Pay Healthcare Directory + Booking Platform created by doctors, for patients. With UBERDOC, patients pay $300 ($50 for Medicare patients) with their HSA or credit card for a priority in-person consult directly with a board-certified physician. Learn more at https://www.uber-docs.com
