New Services Allow Patients To Compare Health Prices
The online service Castlight Health is one of several new programs designed to help patients search for local physicians based on the services they offer and the prices of various procedures. The start-up company -- which is financed by venture capitalists and the Cleveland Clinic -- markets its service to employers and charges a monthly fee based on the number of workers. Experts say such programs could help curb health care spending by improving consumer awareness of procedure costs.
- "Bringing Comparison Shopping to the Doctor's Office" (Cain Miller, New York Times, 6/10).