Goal is to provide consumers with price transparency, improved experience
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Dec. 9, 2020 – UNC Health has developed a new online tool that allows patients to calculate estimates of their own out-of-pocket cost before receiving care. The goal is to improve transparency for consumers who struggle with rising medical costs, and provide more information to help inform their medical care and decisions.
UNC Heath’s estimator tool is a convenient and easy way to help consumers better understand their specific out-of-pocket costs for many services where patients have a choice of providers and typically schedule in advance.
“UNC Health is a leader in providing innovative care and services for our patients,” said Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health. “We understand the importance of price transparency in health care. This estimator is about improving our patients’ experience and giving them more control in managing their health.”
The tool can be used by consumers with insurance or without insurance. Additionally, the tool will provide a comprehensive estimate including both facility and professional fees when these services are provided by UNC Health providers.
For now, the tool includes select services such as office visits, simple procedures and some inpatient services offered by UNC Health across the Triangle including at UNC REX Healthcare and UNC Medical Center. Future plans include expanding the services covered and adding more hospitals and clinics affiliated with UNC Health across the state.
The estimator is accessible thru the My UNC Chart mobile app or web site (https://myuncchart.org/). Estimates for out-of-pocket costs are available for more than 50 services, including cardiology, orthopedics, rehabilitation, sleep studies and some office visits. The tool integrates with a patient’s account and automatically applies their insurance benefits and other factors to calculate estimates of what they will owe.
Media contact: Alan Wolf, 919-218-7103, alan.wolf@unchealth.unc.edu
About UNC Health
UNC Health is an integrated health care system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill. It exists to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina and to provide state-of-the-art patient care.
UNC Health is comprised of UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill, ranked consistently among the best medical centers in the country; the UNC School of Medicine, a nationally eminent research institution; Pardee UNC Health Care in Hendersonville; Chatham Hospital in Siler City; Johnston Health in Clayton and Smithfield; UNC Lenoir Health Care in Kinston; Wayne UNC Health Care in Goldsboro; Caldwell UNC Health Care in Lenoir; Nash UNC Health Care in Rocky Mount; UNC Rockingham Health Care in Eden, Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, UNC REX Healthcare and its provider network in Wake County; and the UNC Physicians Network.
For more information, please visit www.unchealth.org