Managing Utilization

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request from a consumer of medical services to engage with a provider of medical services in real time over the Internet using a computer-based brokerage system, accessing stored information related to past engagements of the consumer using the computer-based brokerage system, and determining allocation of a fee between the consumer and a third party for an engagement between the consumer and the provider based at least in part on the information related to the past engagements of the consumer.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving a request from a consumer of medical services to engage with a provider of medical services in real time over the Internet using a computer-based brokerage system;   accessing stored information related to past engagements of the consumer using the computer-based brokerage system; and   determining allocation of a fee between the consumer and a third party for an engagement between the consumer and the provider based at least in part on the information related to the past engagements of the consumer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information comprises a total number of engagements by the consumer during a period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information comprises a total financial expenditure of an insurance company during a period of time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the allocation of the fee between the consumer and a third party comprises determining a percentage of a total cost to be paid by the consumer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accessing health related information about the consumer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the allocation of the fee between the consumer and a third party comprises determining the allocation of the fee between the consumer and a third party based at least in part on the information related to the past engagements and the health related information. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the allocation of the fee between the consumer and a third party comprises allocating the entire fee to the consumer if an amount paid by the third party is greater than a threshold set by the third party. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third party comprises an insurance carrier. 
     
     
         9 . A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
 receive a request from a consumer of medical services to engage with a provider of medical services in real time over the Internet using a computer-based brokerage system;   access stored information related to past engagements of the consumer using the computer-based brokerage system; and   determine an allocation of a fee between the consumer and a third party for an engagement between the consumer and the provider based at least in part on the information related to the past engagements of the consumer.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to:   access stored information related to past engagements of the consumer using the computer-based brokerage system; and   determine an allocation of a fee between the consumer and a third party for an engagement between the consumer and the provider based at least in part on the information related to the past engagements of the consumer.