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NIB's health professional ratings website attracts 40,000 patients

Listed health insurer NIB says almost 40,000 people have used its controversial website that rates and compares health professionals such as dentists, optometrists and chiropractors. The site, called Whitecoat, was launched several weeks ago after previous plans were shouted down by industry bodies. Critics included the powerful Australian Medical Association - although the site does not cover general practitioners and medical specialists - and the Australian Dental Association.
By · 9 Dec 2013
By ·
9 Dec 2013
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Listed health insurer NIB says almost 40,000 people have used its controversial website that rates and compares health professionals such as dentists, optometrists and chiropractors. The site, called Whitecoat, was launched several weeks ago after previous plans were shouted down by industry bodies. Critics included the powerful Australian Medical Association - although the site does not cover general practitioners and medical specialists - and the Australian Dental Association.

The latter argued that it would be difficult for patients to appreciate "reasonable reasons for differences in costs".

But NIB says almost half of the searches have been for dentists, followed by physiotherapists and chiropractors.

The Whitecoat website provides a directory of more than 30,000 healthcare providers, including ratings of them and comparative cost data.
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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

NIB's Whitecoat website is designed to rate and compare health professionals such as dentists, optometrists, and chiropractors, providing a directory of over 30,000 healthcare providers along with ratings and comparative cost data.

Since its launch, almost 40,000 people have used the Whitecoat website to search for and compare health professionals.

On the Whitecoat website, dentists are the most frequently searched health professionals, followed by physiotherapists and chiropractors.

The Whitecoat website has been considered controversial because industry bodies like the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Dental Association have raised concerns, particularly about patients understanding the reasons for cost differences.

No, the Whitecoat website does not cover general practitioners and medical specialists; it focuses on other health professionals like dentists and chiropractors.

Users can find a directory of healthcare providers, ratings, and comparative cost data for various health professionals on the Whitecoat website.

The healthcare industry, including bodies like the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Dental Association, has expressed criticism and concerns about the Whitecoat website, particularly regarding patient understanding of cost differences.

Everyday investors might be interested in the Whitecoat website as it represents an innovative approach by NIB to engage consumers in healthcare decisions, potentially impacting the company's market position and financial performance.