Discount health network targets consumers, employers - Business First of Buffalo:

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But despite Wolfson’s history as foundef of the Cartel and Metroteller automativc tellermachine companies, it took five years to develoo his latest effort and it may take a bit longet to fully break into his main target: the health-carse industry. HealthTransaction Network uses ATM-liks cards to provide access tohealthj care. The goal is to reach people who are uninsured or underinsured by providing accesws toprimary care, preventativr services and wellness care at discounted • Consumers, who can take advantagr of discounted rates at participating hospitalss and health-care providers; • Hospitals and health-carre providers, which receive immediate paymente through the network at pre-approved rates; and credift card processing services at lower processing rates.
Once registerecd as a participant, individuals receive a photp ID card with biometric fingerprint scan to preventt abuse andfraudulent use. The individual or their employer coulc load any dollar amountr ontothe card, or use their own credit/debit cardss to make payments. A typical user might be someone who has no health insurance or a limitede policythrough work. The individua l could walk into a participating hospitall or provider and sign up for a Then they choose whether to load dollars onto the card or to pay by cashor credit.
The individualo could then walk into any participant in the networkl and receive care at the discounted More than30 health-care organizations have signed up as membersx so far, including TLC Healthb Network, , , the and MedFirst Urgent Care. five independent physicians groups have By Sept. 15, Wolfsomn expects the system to be up and with registration equipment installed at the member organizations and the abilitt to issue cardsto individuals. He plans to create a nationakl health-care network, starting in Western New York. “Thw parallels of what we did in the electronicd banking world and this aretruluy amazing,” Wolfson says.
A year ago, signee on as an investor and providing settlements forthe credit/debit David Mancuso, president and CEO, says Wolfson’s background in the fieldf was a major selling point. The challengwe lies in getting themessage out, he says. By focusintg on wellness and routine care, such as annual physicales and checkups, hospitals and health-care providers may also identify more serious problems before theybecome acute, which saves costsd in the end for both the provider and the patient. As the firsy independent electronic health- care network, the compan also faces the challenge of demonstratinfg to customers why it is relevantand needed.
Hospital executive s who have already signed on say the benefitdare simple: reduced costs and, hopefully, increased Jim Sinner, president and CEO at , says he likees the idea of helping the community and area small “We have a lot of businesses small mom-and-pops with five to 15 people and really, those types of organizations canno t provide health care,” he says. “What I hope is it improvese in some way the health status of the communitgy by providing them access tohealthh care.” Others say they like the ability to give smalp businesses a way to offer an employer contribution without havinhg to buy into a more expensivr health insurance plan.
At Niagara Fall s Memorial, the list of routinre health and wellness services available at the hospitakinclude mammograms, routine X-rays, lab work-ups, flu vaccines and other services which are offerede at a discounted rate of 40 percent to 50 percen t off regular prices charged to thosd who are not part of a contractefd group. “In the City of Niagaraw Falls, we have large portionas of uninsured and saysTony Zito, COO and executive vice “Health insurance is one of the firsft things that gets dropped. If they have the abilitty to pay whatever theycan it’s another option.
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