605 - The Cost of Care: Improving Transparency and Access in Australian Healthcare

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jakomi Mathews, founder and CEO of Goto.health, about the role of technology in improving price transparency, payment workflows, and access to healthcare services for both patients and clinics across Australia

The conversation explores how gaps in pricing visibility and payment processes continue to shape patient behaviour and clinic operations, and why these challenges persist despite broader conversations around health system reform.

The discussion delves into the origin story behind Goto.health and the real-world experiences that highlighted the need for a more transparent and predictable approach to healthcare payments.

It also examines the growing impact of affordability pressures on patients, including delayed care and the risk of bill shock, as well as the operational inefficiencies faced by clinics in managing cancellations, no-shows, and inconsistent cash flow.

Beyond these challenges, the episode looks at how digital payment models inspired by other industries can streamline booking and payment processes across different care settings.

It also considers broader implications for the healthcare ecosystem, drawing on insights from both Australian and international approaches, and highlights emerging innovations that aim to create a more connected, efficient, and patient-centred healthcare experience.

Key Takeaways

🩺 Price transparency and accessibility remain major barriers to healthcare; nearly 50% of Australians delay or cancel care due to affordability

💳 Goto.health uses a model similar to Uber for healthcare payments, guaranteeing clinic payments and reducing cancellations or no-shows

📈 The current healthcare SaaS booking incumbents are still only capturing a small fraction of medical appointments in Australia

🦷 The Australian healthcare landscape has significant cost variance, especially in dental care, driving some patients to seek treatment overseas

🌏 Regulatory trends are pushing for mandated price transparency, both in Australia and in the US, influencing Goto.health’s roadmap

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & background

00:47 – Goto.health origin story

02:05 – Clinic workflow challenges

03:18 – Price transparency impact

07:41 – Out-of-pocket healthcare costs

12:02 – Benefits for clinics and patients

15:13 – Goto.health’s product in action

18:07 – Scaling the model & group implementations

21:08 – Payment integrations and industry challenges

23:29 – Roadmap and international expansion

25:45 – Market context and platform growth

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

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THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit

Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.

THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit

Explore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.