Bringing the First Phase of Cost Transparency to Michigan

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - October 23, 2006)  As part of its commitment to helping people make more informed decisions regarding their health care, Priority Health is bringing the first phase of cost transparency to Michigan, providing common cost estimates for medical procedures, health services, and prescription drugs online here at www.priorityhealth.com. After recently being recognized by the Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) for its advanced Find a Doctor Tool, which enables users to find physicians by quality ratings or "apples" and Google Map directions, Priority Health is raising the bar again, presenting two new online tools that further enhance the member experience.

Priority Health's Common Costs Tool provides cost estimates for more than 85 common procedures and health services, such as hospital/ER fees, imaging and radiology, labs and testing, medical supplies and equipment, physician office services, and therapy services. Also new is Priority Health's Pharmacy Tool, which provides estimated costs for approved prescription drugs. Users can also search drugs alphabetically, by drug class and drug name. Priority Health members who log in can view their specific prescription drug costs according to their benefit plan.

"Priority Health has taken a significant first step in providing the community with greater information to assist them in making more informed health care decisions," said Kimberly K. Horn, president and CEO for Priority Health. "Our members can now log on at priorityhealth.com and receive personalized benefit information, obtain prescription drug costs, find a doctor, and common costs for medical procedures and services."

Engaging Consumers
According to Information Strategies, Inc., Consumer Directed Health Plan (CDHP) products such as health savings accounts (HSAs) are increasing in demand. Their research predicts fall enrollment of HSAs will exceed estimates, with total enrollment nationwide at 3.6 million by January 2, 2007. "As the demand for health savings accounts increases, and consumers take control of their medical spending dollars, there will be an increasing need for cost and quality information from health plans," said JoAnn Laing, president and CEO of Information Strategies. "Priority Health understands that consumers want cost and quality information in a format that is readily understood and can be acted upon."

Go to the Common Costs area

Go to the Approved Drug List tool
        
About Priority Health:
    Priority Health is a nationally recognized health plan company based in Michigan. It serves more than 460,000 members with a broad portfolio of products including HMOs, PPOs, HSAs, Medicaid, and Medicare. Priority Health is a non-profit company dedicated to providing all people access to affordable health care. It is consistently ranked among the nation's best health plans by U.S. News & World Report. For more information about Priority Health, visit the About Us section of this website.