Patent ID: 8510124
Filing Date: 2013-08-13
Classification: G06Q,G16H

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a health care consumer with information for a prospectively performed health service for treatment of at least one health condition, the method comprising: providing an electronic health care user interface to the consumer through which consumer identity information can be entered; receiving the consumer identity information from the electronic health care user interface; determining, by a health care computer system, that the consumer is a member of a health insurance plan provided by a health plan organization; receiving, by the electronic health care user interface, a selection by the consumer of a first health care provider, wherein the first health care provider has a contractual relationship with the health plan organization that specifies a first monetary amount that the first health care provider would charge for rendering the health service and/or a second monetary amount that the first health care provider would be compensated by the health plan organization for rendering the health service; determining, by the health care computer system, a treatment cost efficiency metric for the first health care provider based on a total cost of treatment of the at least one health condition rendered by the first health care provider, including: presenting, to the consumer, by the electronic health care user interface, cost information for performing the health service and the treatment cost efficiency metric for the first health care provider, wherein the cost information is based on the first monetary amount and/or the second monetary amount under the contractual relationship and in accordance with the health insurance plan, and wherein the cost information and the treatment cost efficiency metric are presented to the consumer prior to the first health care provider performing the health service; presenting, to the consumer, by the electronic health care user interface, quality information for the first health care provider, wherein the quality information includes indicia for each of: compliance of the first health care provider with predetermined quality criteria, a frequency of adverse reactions in past patients of the first health care provider, rates that past patients of the first health care provider subsequently have sought similar health care services, an indication of whether the first health care provider uses latest procedure, and comparison of the indicia to industry standards; and receiving, by the health care computer system, cost information and quality information relating to a second health care provider, the second health care provider also under a contractual relationship with the health plan organization, wherein the received cost information and quality information for the health care provider and the second health care provider are presented by the electronic health care user interface in a comparative arrangement.