[February 23, 2012]

When Surgery is Not Just Surgery

FAIR Health, the independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and out-of-network reimbursement, today launched FH Estimate Assist, a free web-based tool to help consumers learn the cost of medical procedures that are commonly performed together.

Medical treatments often involve more than one procedure. For example, a colonoscopy may be performed with some form of anesthesia, and in some cases, a biopsy. Consumers may find it difficult, however, to anticipate the full cost of these types of treatments.

FH Estimate Assist will help consumers generate a more complete cost picture by allowing them to select additional procedures that may be associated with their particular treatment. The tool will provide a separate estimate for each of the selected procedures, as well as a total cost estimate for the entire group.

"FAIR Health is constantly working to improve the transparency of healthcare costs, and FH Estimate Assist is another way to help consumers understand an plan for their health-related expenses," FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd said. "Consumers may not always anticipate the cost of all the related procedures that may be included in their treatment plans. FH Estimate Assist will help individuals assess additional expenses they may encounter before they begin treatment."

FH Estimate Assist is available as part of FAIR Health's Medical Cost Lookup, a tool available at www.fairhealthconsumer.org. In addition to cost estimates for procedures associated with colonoscopy, FH Estimate Assist provides cost estimates for a number of medical procedures that typically involve a group of procedures, such as tonsillectomy, breast biopsy, and knee arthroscopy. FAIR Health will continue to add new related procedures to FH Estimate Assist.

To determine the full range of procedures that may be included in their care, consumers are advised to consult their doctors in advance of treatment, or, if reviewing bills, they can refer to their explanation of benefits (EOB) forms.

About FAIR Health:

FAIR Health is a national independent, not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to bring transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through comprehensive data products and consumer resources. FAIR Health uses its database of billions of billed medical and dental services to power a free website (www.fairhealthconsumer.org) that enables consumers to estimate and plan their medical and dental expenditures. The website also offers clear, unbiased educational articles and videos about the healthcare insurance reimbursement system. In addition to its consumer offerings, FAIR Health licenses data products to businesses, governmental agencies, healthcare providers and researchers. With its professional staff of experts in healthcare, statistics, technology, and communications, FAIR Health strives to offer accurate, consistent and timely information to all stakeholders in the healthcare system.

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