PriceDoc.com dental services now available across U.S.

PriceDoc.com -- a free website where consumers who are uninsured, underinsured, or seeking elective procedures can view and reserve prices with qualified medical and dental care providers for cash or credit card payments -- is now available throughout the U.S.

Since the company's Seattle-based pilot program launched in April, more than 1,800 providers from across the country have become PriceDoc.com subscribers and posted more than 50,000 medical and dental procedures that are available for cash prices, the company said in a press release. To date, patients have performed more than 331,000 searches for medical and dental procedures, accessed provider information, and reserved a price, according to the release.

Patients can also submit a bid for services at their desired price to multiple providers through PriceDoc.com's patent-pending online bidding system. PriceDoc.com's transparent cash pricing is also attractive to employees who deposit tax-free dollars into health savings accounts to help offset the higher out-of-pocket costs, the company noted.

"Based on our recent experiences, there is a huge demand for what PriceDoc.com brings to consumers and healthcare providers," said Patrick Bradley, president and chief operating officer of PriceDoc.com. "Clearly, the idea of transparent medical pricing resonates with both groups, and we're looking forward to making our service available to people across the country."

By listing their services and prices on PriceDoc.com, healthcare providers gain access to "cash-paying" patients who optimize their office scheduling, secure fees-for-service, and offer cash payments that reduce paperwork and overhead costs, the company said.

"PriceDoc offers a mass-market avenue for provider recognition," said Randal Swanlund, D.D.S., of Tacoma, WA, in the release. "Consumers can review my prices and qualifications 24 hours a day, so I get more exposure. More importantly, the site creates a much-needed dialogue between patients and providers."