A health IT startup that sets out to help people find the most desirable surgeon by price range, quality ratings and location has won an innovation challenge that marked tax company H&R Block’s first foray into the healthcare sector.
eLuminate Health won $15,000 in the Hackovate Health challenge by business incubator Think Big Partners with H&R Block in Kansas City, Missouri this week. The company claims its online platform could save up money on procedures and healthcare costs. Physicians inform the company the prodcedure patients need and the company sends patients a list of providers. Users customize the list based on preferences including price, location and quality rating. The company says the ratings are based on a combination of hospitals, insurance companies, physicians and other consumers.
Ratings websites have received decidedly mixed views. Advocates say they provide much needed transparency to healthcare and make the potentially stressful job of finding a physician easier. Critics contend that it’s hard to tell how many people the ratings derive from and that they cannot be treated with the same level of seriousness as peer reviews. It reflects the growing trend of healthcare adopting practices associated with the hospitality sector. A survey published earlier this year revealed that about 80 percent of physicians that looked up entries about themselves agreed with the ratings.
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One health IT company made preventing hospital overcharges its objective. InAssist Health Management Solution based in Torrance, CA, offered a medical protection service. Through its portal, consumers can log in to the InAssist system to pay medical bills and better understand what they are getting charged for, according to a company statement. A Foursquare for healthcare was another runner up. GetHealth’s mobile app indicates when users “check in” to performing different healthy activities.
SHHADE short for Supply Home Health Care Alternatives and Dedicated Education, based in Miami, won the popular vote for its patient monitoring, health coaching, care coordination and mobile primary care services.
One of the reasons behind H&R Block’s involvement in the innovation challenge is its CEO Bill Cobb’s view that technology innovation could help consumers address the sorts of financial decisions the roll out of the new healthcare law will pose. As the Affordable Care Act is rolled out, people not covered by insurance plans provided by their companies will need to buy a policy themselves. As part of a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield, customers sorting out their tax returns with the tax planners this spring will be asked if they want to learn about their health insurance options.
[Photo Credit: Freedigitalphotos user jscreationz]
