Davis Vision Partners with SpendWell Health to Provide Care to Cash-Pay Patients

Davis Vision has signed an agreement with SpendWell Health, an online marketplace for health care services, to provide cash-based care through the managed vision care provider's network of optometrists, ophthalmologists and dispensing locations. SpendWell is building a nationwide online marketplace to give consumers with high deductibles a way to shop for quality routine health care services at competitive cash-pay prices, according to a statement released earlier this week on Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, by SpendWell.   "Davis Vision is devoted to supporting our provider network with new tools for attracting customers and remaining competitive within an expanding direct-pay health care market," said Donna Geringer, senior vice president of exchanges, national accounts and network development for Davis Vision. "SpendWell provides an easy way for our providers to attract new direct-pay patients by putting clear, real-time pricing in front of a growing number of customers who are looking to make smarter decisions with their health care dollars."   Consumers search for health care providers and services, see reviews from other patients, determine their out-of-pocket costs for services, and pay online for selected services prior to the appointment. After the patient's appointment, providers click to verify services and SpendWell releases the patient's payment.   "SpendWell will be available to all independent retailers and most chains in the Davis network," according to Geringer. "About 35,000 of the 44,000 Davis Vision providers will have access to the marketplace," she told VMail.   "Vision providers can enroll their practices now on the SpendWell Health marketplace," according to Geringer. "Davis Vision providers will need to set up their profile on SpendWell, including approving website terms and conditions and the business associate agreement. Also, they need to agree to be paid electronically so prompt payments can be made directly to their accounts," Geringer told VMail.   While SpendWell is currently building its provider base prior to offering the service to employer groups nationwide and Davis Vision providers will be live on the SpendWell marketplace by the end of 2014, the SpendWell service is not expected to launch until early 2015, according to the SpendWell statement.   "Shoppers can search for vision care on SpendWellHealth.com and compare providers and their services on one website versus having to contact multiple providers to check on services and prices," Geringer told VMail. "Shoppers will benefit from clear, upfront pricing, can pay online for their services and don't need to worry about submitting a claim; their SpendWell purchases will automatically be applied to their health plan deductible.   "SpendWell shoppers will be able to search by vision exam or by provider name, but providers will be identified by the name of their practice or the provider's name. They will not be labeled as Davis Vision providers. However, Davis Vision is listed as a preferred partner on the SpendWell website."   Optometry care will be curated so that direct-pay patients can easily understand services at competitive market prices, the SpendWell statement said. "Today's consumers are looking for new, innovative ways to shop for health care services, and we're excited to partner with Davis Vision to empower SpendWell shoppers to find quality care at known prices," said Marcee Chmait, president of SpendWell. "Plus, through SpendWell's online health services marketplace, Davis Vision providers will gain the ability to attract more direct-pay patients, boost revenue and reduce the administrative hassles of billing and claims."