HealthAllies.com Debuts Shopping Service

HealthAllies.com, the Glendale company that aims to use the Internet to help consumers negotiate lower prices for their health-care bills, is launching a service on its Web site today to allow visitors to shop for discounted medical services. The health-care exchange includes services that typically are not covered by insurance plans, such as laser eye surgery, infertility treatments and tooth whitening, said HealthAllies.com Chief Executive Andy Slavitt. About 350,000 physicians have agreed to give discounted rates to customers who come to them through the Web site, said Slavitt, whose company has been building the exchange since last summer.