HealthPartners, billed as the largest consumer-governed nonprofit healthcare organization in the nation, has launched a new Web tool that provides prices for 83 procedures at its network primary care and radiology facilities in Minnesota's seven-county metro area.
The tool lists specific prices at individual clinics in HealthPartners' open-access network.
The prices are for five high-volume categories of services: office visits, immunizations/vaccines, common lab services, X-Ray and CT/MRI.
For example, a wrist X-ray at one Twin Cities clinic costs $61.60; an influenza test is $29.18.
"This is an important step forward in transparency because the information we provide is for specific prices rather than a range," said Scott Aebischer, senior vice president of customer service and product innovation. "This information is particularly useful for members who are paying out-of-pocket fees. Pricing, along with overall cost and quality information, can help a member determine the care provider that is right for them."
A HealthPartners study released last year found that consumers with health savings accounts use Web tools 13 percent more often to compare cost and quality. The study also found that costs are more than 4 percent lower for members in consumer direct health plans because members choose less expensive and more efficient providers.
The new price listings by clinic are accessible through the "Find a Provider/Clinic" section of healthpartners.com.
In December, HealthPartners plans to expand cost information available to members on the Web site with an interactive tool that will allow members to compare prices for 100 services/procedures at up to three locations at a time.