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 AustraliaThe 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 roadmapTimestamps00:00 – Introduction & background00:47 – Goto.health origin story02:05 – Clinic workflow challenges03:18 – Price transparency impact07:41 – Out-of-pocket healthcare costs12:02 – Benefits for clinics and patients15:13 – Goto.health’s product in action18:07 – Scaling the model & group implementations21:08 – Payment integrations and industry challenges23:29 – Roadmap and international expansion25:45 – Market context and platform growthCheck out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.If you’re enjoying the show and want access to exclusive healthtech discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealth.tech/solo_shownotes.And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.Mentioned in this episode:Sign Up to the Free Talking Healthtech NewsletterSign up to the free Talking HealthTech newsletter for weekly digital health news, events, jobs, partner updates and Pete’s take on what matters across the sector: talkinghealthtech.com/newsletter