In fact, on just 11 common
procedures, the people of
Nashville could save $141 million
dollars a year if they knew
where to find fair priced care.
The Cure for Price Blindness
Healthcarebluebook.com is
the cure for price blindness.
Bluebook is a free website and
mobile app recently launched
in Middle Tennessee that lets
consumers perform a simple
Google-style search to see cost
and quality data for hundreds
of procedures so they can make
informed decisions about
where to go.
When they search a procedure,
Bluebook displays a
price bar showing the high
price, the low price and the
Fair Price in the area, along
with a list of facilities that
offer it. Facilities have color
coded price rankings. Cost
at green facilities is at or below
the Fair Price, yellow facilities
are slightly above the
Fair Price and red facilities
charge the highest price.
Providers committed to
fair and transparent pricing,
or who may offer special pricing
for Bluebook users, like
Premier Diagnostic Imaging
in Cookeville, are listed as Featured
Facilities and represent
the best value.
“When we learned about
Healthcare Bluebook, we immediately
signed up as a Featured
Facility,” said Bob Gunter,
Premier Diagnostic Imaging
CEO, “When patients discover
Premier through Healthcare
Bluebook, they save money and
get great care.”
Bluebook lists doctors too.
Each physician’s profile includes
a Patient Savings Rating
showing whether their referral
patterns are likely to save their
patients money or cost them
extra. Value Certified Providers
(VCP) offer the best value.
VCP physicians have pledged
to be transparent with their
own pricing and to use Bluebook
when making referrals to
ensure their patients get high
value care.
Helping Your Doctor
Patients often assume their doctor
knows best, but doctors are
often unaware that prices vary
or where to refer their patients
for the best value. By adding
the Healthcare Bluebook app
to their phone patients can
show it to their doctor during
their office visit and work with
their physician to quickly find
cost-effective care when their
treatment calls for imaging,
tests or other referrals.
Help for Now, Hope
for the Future
There are many areas of the
healthcare industry that need
repair or improvement in the
future. But, at least Healthcare
Bluebook solves the problem of
Price Blindness for the people
of Middle Tennessee today.
Healthy Living | Fall Issue | 2017 37