A new chatbot developed by Gov. Mike Braun’s administration aims to make health care price data more accessible to Hoosiers.
Need a colonoscopy, for example?
If you ask the chatbot to find you the best price for a colonoscopy in Indiana, it takes less than 30 seconds for the chatbot to generate a result, using data from a statewide claims database: That’s at Bloomington Endoscopy Center, where a colonoscopy with lesion removal is $1,450.
Another chat later, the bot can give you a comparison of colonoscopy prices at different facilities in Indiana, factoring in median insurance discounts. At Terre Haute Regional Hospital, for instance, you’re looking at nearly $8,500 for a colonoscopy according to the database.
Only want options below $2,000? It can spit out a list like that too after a short wait.
Braun’s administration says the new chatbot is a “first-of-its-kind tool” that will enhance transparency and support informed health decision-making.
“Hoosiers deserve clear, accessible information about the price and quality of healthcare services,” Braun said in a statement. “This new chatbot makes it easier for patients and families to get the data they need, and it is another step toward greater transparency, stronger competition, and lower healthcare costs in Indiana.”
Information from the chatbot is generated from the state’s so-called “All Payer Claims Database,” which collects health care claims information and cash prices from sources including health insurers. Indiana is one of 26 states that have such a database established or in development, according to Braun’s office.
The interactive chatbot is designed to enhance the experience, “streamlining the search process” and serving as a centralized resource.
The database can also give information on everything from the average cost of gastric bypass surgery in Merrillville to a knee replacement in Evansville.
You can see how it works in the video below during an IndyStar reporter’s demo.
The bot was established through an ongoing partnership between the Indiana Department of Insurance and OnPoint Health Data, to which the state has paid $1.4 million since 2023 to build out the database, according to vendor data on the Indiana Transparency Portal.
“By helping Hoosiers find clear, accurate information from the APCD, we empower individuals, families, and communities to make better healthcare decisions,” said Jonathan Handsborough, executive director of the database. “The chatbot shows our commitment to transparency, ease of use, and better health across Indiana.”
Contact investigative reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com or follow her on X @hayleighcolombo.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: State launches health care chatbot to improve price transparency. How it works
Reporting by Hayleigh Colombo, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
