To keep business flowing, some hospitals are acting like stores
Retail sales enticements like quick price quotes and money-back guarantees are coming to a hospital near you if they’re not already there—and imaging is a likely pitch point, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
The consulting giant’s Health Research Institute has put together a report on the developing trend. RevCycleIntelligence.com does a nice job breaking it down.
The reason for the aggressive reach-out to patients is drops in patient traffic brought about by the volume-to-value healthcare economy, writer Jacqueline Belliveau notes before quoting the PWC report as saying health systems are “rethinking their charges and developing innovative ways to communicate them to their customers.”
Imaging gets a couple of callouts for its part in bringing about the movement toward greater transparency in pricing.
For example, PwCresearchers found chest CT scans in New Hampshire going for $2,701 at a hospital and $872 at a freestanding imaging center.
And in Oregon, an MRI scan fetched $3,503 at one hospital and $1,252 at another.
Such gaps are increasingly important because “many consumers report being open to seeking care in new venues,” according to PwC. “More than one-third of consumers say they would be willing to go to a retail clinic for an imaging procedure, for example.”
Read more at RevCycleIntelligence:
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.