Talking HealthTech

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

The Talking Health Tech podcast featured Jacomi Matthews, founder and CEO of GotoHealth, discussing how her startup aims to bring price transparency and easier access to allied‑health services across Australia. Matthews cites research that 48% of Australians have postponed or cancelled appointments because they cannot afford them, and her own field work found that 20‑21% of weekly bookings are cancelled or rescheduled, with an additional 5% no‑shows. GotoHealth tackles both sides of the problem: patients gain upfront cost information, while clinics receive guaranteed payment for every booking. The platform uses an Uber‑style token that authorises a charge two minutes after an appointment ends, delivering funds to the clinic in real time—far faster than the typical 24‑48‑hour settlement. Early adopters, including a network of 62 physiotherapy clinics, report that bookings become searchable and payable in under two minutes, and that cancellation rates have dropped. If widely adopted, the model could lower emergency‑department overload caused by delayed care, improve cash‑flow stability for practices facing stagnant Medicare rebates, and push the broader Australian health system toward consumer‑driven pricing standards.