UnitedHealthcare today announced at the 2014 International CES myEasyBook, an online health care shopping service that makes it easier and more affordable for consumers to make appointments with local health care professionals, including for same-day and next-day appointments.

myEasyBook enables consumers to make appointments online with a click of a mouse and compare in-network care providers in multiple specialties, providing discounts of 30 percent or more compared to average out-of-pocket expenses for health care services. Consumers are able to search by specialty, location and appointment date, and compare cost information for each health care provider, giving consumers a more accurate picture of expected out-of-pocket expenses and potential savings. The service enables health care professionals to attract new patients and fill gaps in their daily schedules, while also getting paid up-front for their services and helping to reduce administrative and billing expenses.

myEasyBook is designed for UnitedHealthcare plan participants enrolled in high-deductible health plans linked to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs). Consumers can also pay for appointments by credit card, debit card or bank account, as well as use the service to more easily track and manage health care expenses. The service is now available to employers and their employees in Phoenix and will be available to employers in Dallas and Denver in early 2014, with additional markets to be added through the year.

A variety of medical services can be booked through myEasyBook, including pediatric care, routine physicals, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests, physical and occupational therapy, dental and vision appointments, and massage therapy.

"This innovative service helps people find quality local health care providers more efficiently and at their convenience, delivering value to both patients and providers through a simple, personalized experience," said Tom Paul, chief consumer officer, UnitedHealthcare. "Consumers are gaining a convenient tool to help them access affordable care at transparent prices, while medical professionals are able to attract new patients and fill any gaps in their daily schedules."

UnitedHealthcare introduced myEasyBook last year as a pilot program in Phoenix. So far, 37 percent of users have booked appointments for within two days, and 50 percent of all users have utilized the service more than once.

"myEasyBook has helped our practice and the patients we serve, making care more accessible, convenient and affordable," said Nathan L. Anspach, MA, FACHE, senior vice president and CEO, Scottsdale Lincoln Health Network. "This new service is helping make it easier for patients to connect with health care providers, which can help improve health outcomes and make the health system more efficient."

In addition to showcasing myEasyBook, UnitedHealthcare's 3,000-square-foot exhibitor booth at CES demonstrates how the health care company's health benefits, services and technologies are helping to simplify the consumer health care experience by making helpful, practical information more accessible and affordable through personal technology devices such as smartphones, video game consoles and television programming.

CES attendees who visit the UnitedHealthcare booth [#25515] can interact with a wide range of innovative health tools, including:

  • Virtual Diabetes Prevention Program: The NOT ME Virtual Diabetes Prevention Program (VDPP) is the online version of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), an evidence-based group lifestyle change program that helps people at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes prevent or delay the disease through modest weight loss via healthy eating, increased physical activity and other lifestyle changes. The VDPP was recently named an International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree in the "Technology for a Better World" category.
  • DanceDanceRevolution Classroom Edition: A collaboration with Konami is bringing DanceDanceRevolution (DDR) Classroom Edition, the wildly popular dance game that has shown to encourage physical activity among adults and children, to another school. The participating school will use the game to track its impact on students' health, well-being and exercise habits. The collaboration last year brought DDR Classroom Edition to schools in Longwood, Fla.; Gainesville, Ga.; and Fresno, Texas.
  • Renew (formerly NOVU): Renew is an online engagement platform that inspires and rewards UnitedHealthcare plan participants for taking care of their health and wellness by allowing them to earn points toward healthy products, raffles and local deals.
  • WellView: WellView is a unique consumer web application that automatically aggregates disparate data including electronic medical records from physicians, personal health records, health care expenses, health plan balances and more, all in one place. WellView also offers helpful tools such as online appointment scheduling, provider search and a symptom checker to help improve the experience for consumers and get them to the right resource sooner.

"Each year at CES we listen to and connect with our customers. In response, we are pushing deeper into the digital and online space to deliver integrated offerings when, where and how our customers want to be reached," said Richard Migliori, M.D., chief medical officer, UnitedHealth Group. "The technology and innovative collaborations we are showcasing in our booth this year make it easier and more fun for people to become active participants in their own health outcomes, empowering them to live healthier lives."

Company Executives to Address CES Silvers Summit, Digital Health Summit

Several UnitedHealthcare executives will also make presentations during CES. Terry Clark, UnitedHealthcare's chief marketing officer, will deliver the keynote address at this year's Silvers Summit (Tuesday, Jan. 7, 12:25-1:15 p.m.) about what the health care industry can learn from other sectors about using technology to reach the nation's fastest-growing market segment.

At the CES Digital Health Summit, Tom Paul, UnitedHealthcare's chief consumer officer, will speak about the role technology plays in managing the health and well-being of empowered consumers (Wednesday, Jan. 8, 10:05-10:50 a.m.). Dr. Migliori will speak about the intersection of technology and preventive care (Wednesday, Jan. 8, 10:55-11:45 a.m.); and Yasmine Winkler, UnitedHealthcare's chief marketing, product and innovation officer, will speak about how improvements in telehealth are creating "point-of-care everywhere" (Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2:20-3:10 p.m.).

For more on UnitedHealthcare presence at CES, as well as the company's booth and speaking engagements, visit www.ceshealth.com or follow @CESHealth on Twitter.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with 780,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,900 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 40 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

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UnitedHealthcare
Will Shanley, 714-204-8005
will.shanley@uhc.com