Helping Patients Find Better Deals on Tests and Medicines

With tens of millions of people in the United States living without health insurance, lower prices for medicine and tests can mean the difference between seeking care and going without it. Even for those with insurance, lower prices can significantly ease out-of-pocket costs. How can we help patients find these lower prices, and might we also use price comparisons in our own practice? One physician has taken these issues into her own hands, creating a website that offers comparative pricing for tests and medications in the Chicagoland area. Host Dr. Larry Kaskel learns more about this website, leslieslist.org, from its founder, Dr. Leslie Ramirez, who also works full-time as a general internist. How has her work on the website changed her prescribing habits, and could they change yours too? Dr. Ramirez also shares a few tips for you to help your patients with bargaining on prices, and other ways to drive down costs.