New Estimator Tool Helps Providence Members Find Treatment Costs in Advance

July 2, 2009

BEAVERTON, Ore.─ It’s designed to take some of the guesswork out of medical bills.

On July 1, Providence Health Plan members and physicians will have access to a new online tool that will give them a personalized, accurate estimate for out-of-pocket cost for 35 common office visits and inpatient and outpatient procedures.

While many health care calculators currently provide average cost estimates, Providence’s Treatment Cost Estimator takes the concept one step further and provides personalized cost estimates based on a member’s specific health plan coverage. The estimator takes any deductible, copay or coinsurance amounts and applies them to specific treatments. In addition, the estimator allows members to perform a side-by-side comparison of their out-of-pocket costs based on providers or facilities they select, including the cost difference between in-plan and out-of-plan providers.

“The cost of health care shouldn’t be a mystery and the Treatment Cost Estimator provides our members and physicians with a personalized, reliable resource for seeking treatment cost information,” says Jack Friedman, Providence Health Plan chief executive. “This gives members the opportunity to make smarter, more informed health care decisions.”

By law, all health insurers in Oregon must have a system to help their members predict costs for common exams and procedures in seven categories of care: office visits, maternity, diagnostic imaging, digestive disorders, lab tests, immunizations and orthopedic surgery.

Providence Health Plan’s Treatment Cost Estimator is available to its members on its secure member portal, “myProvidence” at www.providence.org/healthplans. Members can also access the information over the phone by calling Providence Health Plan customer service at 503-574-7500 or 1-800-878-4445.