Comments on: Shopping for an MRI http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/shopping-for-an-mri/ Insights on Health Care Reform | NCPA Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:27:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark Clapp MD http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/shopping-for-an-mri/comment-page-1/#comment-63282 Mark Clapp MD Sat, 15 May 2010 22:06:13 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=797#comment-63282 As a family doc in Tennessee, I encountered this problem in my practice. After 20 years, I decided to try and make a difference with high costs to cash paying patients by starting my own company that negotiates these deals----Samaritan Diagnostics, sdsaves.com. We have centers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and our services and locations are expanding every day. As a family doc in Tennessee, I encountered this problem in my practice. After 20 years, I decided to try and make a difference with high costs to cash paying patients by starting my own company that negotiates these deals—-Samaritan Diagnostics, sdsaves.com. We have centers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and our services and locations are expanding every day.

]]> By: Philip W Chao MD http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/shopping-for-an-mri/comment-page-1/#comment-62031 Philip W Chao MD Mon, 03 May 2010 18:30:11 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=797#comment-62031 At my facility we charge only 500 dollars for a non contrast MRI study. It is a special reduced rate for patients who pay out of pocket. We usually ask that the patient pay this up front but we will accept a payment plan. We do this and offer the best MRI in the world - 3T MRI which generally costs more - because the machines cost 3 million dollars - because we care and we focused our entire facility to reduce our own operating costs. We have low overhead so we can pass that on to the intelligent and discerning patients. www.mriconsultants.net At my facility we charge only 500 dollars for a non contrast MRI study. It is a special reduced rate for patients who pay out of pocket. We usually ask that the patient pay this up front but we will accept a payment plan. We do this and offer the best MRI in the world – 3T MRI which generally costs more – because the machines cost 3 million dollars – because we care and we focused our entire facility to reduce our own operating costs. We have low overhead so we can pass that on to the intelligent and discerning patients. http://www.mriconsultants.net

]]> By: sagacar-insurance http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/shopping-for-an-mri/comment-page-1/#comment-54610 sagacar-insurance Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:19:37 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=797#comment-54610 That's great! Where can I get more information? That’s great! Where can I get more information?

]]> By: Greg Scandlen http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/shopping-for-an-mri/comment-page-1/#comment-39479 Greg Scandlen Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:21:11 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=797#comment-39479 <em>Business Week</em> has never been very friendly to consumer driven health, but a recent <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/oct2008/db20081013_120591.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_news+%2B+analysis" rel="nofollow">article</a> by Lauren Young is a step in the right direction. She starts out with an anecdote about a Tom Billet who needed an X-ray for a torn Achilles tendon, so shopped around and saved $360. All because he has an HSA. It goes on to describe "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of HSAs. Business Week has never been very friendly to consumer driven health, but a recent article by Lauren Young is a step in the right direction. She starts out with an anecdote about a Tom Billet who needed an X-ray for a torn Achilles tendon, so shopped around and saved $360. All because he has an HSA. It goes on to describe "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of HSAs.

]]> By: Mona Lori http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/shopping-for-an-mri/comment-page-1/#comment-39419 Mona Lori Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:42:44 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=797#comment-39419 Two years ago I had the eye-opening opportunity to shop around for the true price for an MRI of he knee. Frustrated by the lack of transparency and unwillingness of providers and my insurance plan to tell me my out-of-pocket price for an MRI, I decided to do something. I developed www.outofpocket.com, a community search engine to help consumers look up prices for health care services, compare what other consumers paid for similar services and find the best value – before visiting a provider. Because insurers and providers do not publish prices in a meaningful way, the initiative relies on consumers to post/share prices they paid for actual services, to share with other consumers. It’s a “compare & share” directory of prices for routine health care services including MRIs, x-rays, mammograms, lab tests, vaccinations, office visits, dental and vision services. I invite you to visit www.outofpocket.com and welcome any comments you would like to share. Mona Lori Founder www.outofpocket.com Two years ago I had the eye-opening opportunity to shop around for the true price for an MRI of he knee. Frustrated by the lack of transparency and unwillingness of providers and my insurance plan to tell me my out-of-pocket price for an MRI, I decided to do something. I developed http://www.outofpocket.com, a community search engine to help consumers look up prices for health care services, compare what other consumers paid for similar services and find the best value – before visiting a provider. Because insurers and providers do not publish prices in a meaningful way, the initiative relies on consumers to post/share prices they paid for actual services, to share with other consumers. It’s a “compare & share” directory of prices for routine health care services including MRIs, x-rays, mammograms, lab tests, vaccinations, office visits, dental and vision services.

I invite you to visit http://www.outofpocket.com and welcome any comments you would like to share.

Mona Lori
Founder
http://www.outofpocket.com

]]> By: Greg http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/shopping-for-an-mri/comment-page-1/#comment-39416 Greg Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:32:05 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=797#comment-39416 As more people experience high deductables, and higher copayments and as more people acquire HSAs and HRAs, I think we may start seeing a real market develop for this type of medical service. In all probability, MRI centers will start competing based on price. Then, as john Goodman predicts, they will compete on quality as well. This should go a long way toward solving the problem Gina Kolata writes about. As more people experience high deductables, and higher copayments and as more people acquire HSAs and HRAs, I think we may start seeing a real market develop for this type of medical service.

In all probability, MRI centers will start competing based on price. Then, as john Goodman predicts, they will compete on quality as well. This should go a long way toward solving the problem Gina Kolata writes about.

]]> By: Chris http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/shopping-for-an-mri/comment-page-1/#comment-39407 Chris Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:02:22 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=797#comment-39407 Try "Shopping for Surgery" and check prices, outcomes, and service levels at hospitals outside the U.S. The world is not flat, and in your situation neither is the neighborhood. Try “Shopping for Surgery” and check prices, outcomes, and service levels at hospitals outside the U.S. The world is not flat, and in your situation neither is the neighborhood.

]]> By: Vicki http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/shopping-for-an-mri/comment-page-1/#comment-39405 Vicki Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:48:30 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=797#comment-39405 One more piece of evidence that the behavior of patients is different when they are paying the bill. One more piece of evidence that the behavior of patients is different when they are paying the bill.

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