Healthcare Blue Book
In September the U.S. Census Bureau released data showing that 46.3 million Americans were without health insurance in 2008. With these numbers it's a reality that many find themselves trying to pay for medical procedures out of pocket.
But how do patients negotiate a fair price? They might start by checking the Healthcare Blue Book. Founder Jeffrey Rice, a lawyer and doctor, started the Blue Book after he was charged $200 for a $20 procedure. The Healthcare Blue Book provides free tools to help consumers determine fair pricing for their medical procedure.
The New York Times recently reported on the Healthcare Blue Book. From the article, "The Healthcare Blue Book compiles prices paid for specific treatments and procedures in ZIP codes throughout the country, then lists what the site determines is a range of fair prices."
Try it for yourself at HealthcareBlueBook.com.
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