I’d love a second opinion when it comes to my health sometimes… but not for $565 out of pocket!
Posted by Z on May 21st, 2008 -
As I was exploring healthcare on the web today, I saw a service I thought was interesting – a web based expert (Cleveland Clinic, aka CC) second opinion healthcare service. I applaud CC for heading down this path, as I feel this is where healthcare needs to go, but the $565 price tag is proof that the consumer/buyers need to demand better pricing. If I had cancer I may pay that, and perhaps that is what CC expects. But there are somethings which I just need a quick opinion on and would like to get an expert opinion. Perhaps CC has looked at this part of the market and chooses to leave it to the nurses and doctors at other vendors – e.g. maybe I can get the virtual second opinion at Walgreens online for $40?
Regardless, as the healthcare data and transparency waves continue to rise, we as consumers will be better positioned to educate ourselves about healthcare and make better quality and cost decisions – playing a significant role in the reform of healthcare as we know (or in some cases don’t know) it today.
Here’s the article: MyConsult: Second Medical Opinions From Doctors at The Cleveland Clinic
FYI, this topic related to a book I just finished reading by G. Halvorson (CEO Kaiser Permanente) – Health Care Reform NOW! (recommended reading).
January 24th, 2009 at 9:41pm
Dear Z,
I just read your posting of May, 2008. Such, at times, is the nature of the Internet…
As you hint at in your posting, I think it is indeed useful to differentiate between just asking a specialist a general question, and getting a true medical second opinion. Indeed asking a question should not carry a $500+ price tag. That price level at Cleveland Clinic and through other services that offer medical second opinions, includes a review of the patient’s medical information, establishing a medical record for the patient, and a custom opinion/recommendation in writing. Considering comparables (say, lawyers’ hourly rates), professional fixed costs (including malpractice insurance) and the physicians’ opportunity costs, this is not all unreasonable.
For general questions on the other hand, there are various “ask the doctor sevices” which are far(!) less costly.
Thanks for recommending Health Care Reform Now! If you liked that book, you may also want to read Redefining Health Care by Porter and Olmsted Teisberg.