AZ Family Practice Doc Launches Comparison Pricing Tool for Imaging Patients

A family physician from Show Low, AZ has launched a competitive pricing website for patients who need diagnostic imaging studies but can't afford to pay full price. Scott Hastings, DO, “took a routine part of his job -- negotiating rates with labs and medical imaging offices -- and launched a startup business,” wrote the Arizona Republic. The company, BidOnHealth.com, offers an alternative for high-deductible and low-coverage patients to bid on diagnostic imaging and lab work. Either the patient agrees to the proposed, negotiated price, or names its own for the same service. BidOnHealth keeps the difference between the negotiated rate and the rate at which the consumer pays. In a competitive imaging market like Arizona, the Record says, the potential upside—more patient throughput lowers overhead—is tempered by the thought of replacing older equipment to keep up with demand.