Sapphire Digital Says Health Shopping Support Services Really Saved Money

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A company with a health care shopping support service says it can show that the service saved money.

Sapphire Digital — the Lyndhurst, New Jersey-based parent of the SmartShopper program —says the program helped members of employer-sponsored health plans cut the total amount spent on five common types of procedures an average of about 25% to 40%.

(Related: Health Care Shopping System Firm Gets New CEO)

The program gives users digital shopping information, along with help from live humans. In 2019, the program allocated $33.5 million in savings to the plan sponsors and $4.7 million to the patients, in the form of cash incentives, according to Sapphire Digital.

The program cut spending on colonoscopies to an actual amount of about $15 million, from a projected amount of $20 million, according to Sapphire Digital figures, and calculations based on Sapphire Digital figures.