"THE LAB" sounds pretty cool. Lab costs differ from region to region; what percentage do your patients save?
There are people in my area who just get a catastrophic policy with a high deductible, and pay the rest out-of-pocket, and come out ahead. If the costs that we control could be lowered, more people would do this.
As far as prescription coverage goes -- love them or hate them -- WalMart in our area has their "Four Dollar List", which includes statins for four dollars, ACE-inhibitors for four dollars, SSRIs for four dollars. They even have omeprazole, metformin and glipizide for four dollars. Okay, maybe you don't get the latest and greatest brand name, but you don't need prescription coverage to get most kinds of drugs you need for the most common chronic health problems we treat.
I have worked at a cash-only clinic in the past. We saw working poor and middle-class patients and families. In my experience, when people pay their own money, they think harder about their medical decisions and lifestyle choices, compliance is improved, and they are more appreciative of the care they receive.
Brian
