WEB-BASED TOOL FOR PATIENTS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO NEGOTIATE SETTLEMENT OF PATIENT ACCOUNTS

摘要

A web-based tool for patients and health care providers to negotiate settlement of patient accounts includes a first website interface to receive a patient information from the patient, the patient information including a bill amount from the provider; a first module that utilizes a publicly available provider information to provide a cost/charge ratio for the provider; a second module that utilizes the cost/charge ratio and the patient information to produce a suggested bid; a third module to electronically provide the suggested bid to the patient; a second website interface to receive a patient bid from the patient; and a fourth module to electronically provide the patient bid to the provider. The patient information may further include a provider identification for the provider and an amount owed by the patient to the provider, and the provider information includes a publicly available Medicare Cost Report for the provider.