Consumer Engagement in Healthcare: Reducing the Information Asymmetry

It’s the top of the first inning for consumer engagement in healthcare.  We are building a foundation based on open data provided by Medicare (CMS).  The encouraging aspect of open data is that its safe to say once the spigot starts to flow, more will follow.  Our goal is to harness the open data and transform it into digestible intelligence for consumers.  This will facilitate consumer engagement in healthcare.
Information asymmetry will still exist, but the tide is changing in healthcare.  We look forward to empowering consumers to make more informed decisions.
As the saying goes, “If you want to play with the big dogs, you need to get off the porch”.  The big dogs are powerful provider groups with massive pricing power, incumbent insurers that prefer the status quo, and  a system that lacks a market mechanism.  Consumer malaise is the last contributor to our healthcare crisis.  It is also arguably the biggest culprit.
One example of open data found on HealthyHive.com is home health care agency information about services provided as well as survey data (ratings).
http://www.healthyhive.com/medicare/home_health/3716/medex-home-healthcare-inc
So get off the porch.