OutofPocket Weblog

OutofPocket Weblog: "I have become a cost-conscious consumer of health care services, and I shop around for the best value, just like I would shop around for a car or electronics. The only problem is there are no Consumer Reports for health care where I can easily find the best value for health care services. I have no meaningful tools to help me make informed choices about where to find the best value for routine health care services like MRIs, X-rays, vaccinations, mammograms, and office visits. How do I avoid the overpriced providers with poor performance ratings? Now that I pay out of pocket for these services (up to $5000), how do shop for value? How do I find out what other patients think of a physician that is listed in my plans network?"