In this video, Fuse co-founder Sho Sugihara talks about the impact of AI search by patients on provider lead generation.

Why AI Search Matters‍

AI tools like ChatGPT and Google AI search are changing how people find healthcare. More patients are turning to these platforms, and far fewer clinics are show to the patient compared to a traditional Google search result.

New Patient Clicks, Higher Value

‍AI search typically displays just three to four clinics per result. If your clinic is featured, patients are 150% more likely to click, and each lead is four to eight times more valuable than before.

Get Your Clinic Noticed‍

We will be posting more videos to help your clinic get seen in AI search results.

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The Problem

When a patient walks into a US healthcare clinic today, they typically have no idea what they're going to pay. Unlike buying groceries, booking a hotel, or purchasing anything else in the modern economy, healthcare remains a financial black box. You receive treatment first, then wait weeks for a bill that often comes as a complete surprise.

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This isn't just inconvenient—it's a significant financial risk for patients, and a symptom of a broken system. Only one in six patients know what their care will cost before treatment, despite the fact that twenty cents of every dollar healthcare providers spend goes to financial administration—not patient care, not medical equipment, but paperwork, phone calls, and bureaucracy.

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The situation is increasingly unsustainable. Patients are walking into medical appointments with no idea what they'll owe, while healthcare costs continue rising at unsustainable rates. Meanwhile, providers lose up to 10% of their revenue to billing errors and underpayments.

Our Solution

We started Fuse because AI and other technologies can now automate many of the manual tasks that previously made accurate patient cost estimates nearly impossible to create efficiently.

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Before, provider admin teams had to manually read insurance card details, contact patients for missing information, upload this data to payer websites, note patient benefits, call payers for additional details, read their contracts, calculate bills, explain bills to patients, before finally billing a patient. This process was slow, error-prone, and expensive.

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Fuse is now automating these steps:

• Patient intake and data capture - automatically extracting and organizing insurance information
• Real-time insurance verification - conducting CPT-code level benefits checks without manual payer portal navigation
• Contract analysis and payment benchmarking - determining accurate allowed amounts and patient responsibility
• Automated cost estimation - generating precise patient estimates before treatment
• Streamlined billing and collections - handling the entire billing workflow

The results: We've already reduced insurance verification administration by over 95% while eliminating eligibility-related denials for our partners.

Our Vision

Every patient should know the accurate cost of their care before treatment—just like shopping for products anywhere else. This should be the norm, not the exception.

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Patients should expect price transparency from their healthcare providers. Healthcare providers shouldn't have to spend hours determining the cost of care for each patient. When you buy anything else, you see the price upfront. Healthcare should work the same way.

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We're building the infrastructure to make this vision reality. A healthcare system where financial transparency is standard, where patients can make informed decisions about their care, and where providers can focus on healing instead of endless administrative tasks.

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As repeat entrepreneurs focused on financial inclusion, we're excited to be backed by leading investors like Y Combinator to make this vision a reality.

How Do Mental Health Counseling Costs in Anchorage Compare

If you're seeking mental health counseling in Anchorage, you're probably wondering what it will actually cost you. Unfortunately, the answer isn't straightforward; it depends heavily on your insurance plan and where you go for treatment.

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A typical mental health counseling journey may involve three main services: an initial psychiatric evaluation to assess your condition ($129–$216 with insurance), extended psychotherapy sessions for in-depth treatment ($90–$195 per session), and psychological testing when needed for diagnostic clarity ($136–$219 per session). Most patients attend counseling sessions weekly for several months, so understanding these costs up front can help you budget for treatment and choose the most affordable provider for your situation.

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How much you pay with insurance depends on several details: It varies based on whether you've met your deductible, what your plan charges for copays and coinsurance, and if your plan uses a flat copay or a percentage (coinsurance) for each type of mental health service. For example, if your deductible isn't met, you'll pay the full negotiated rate—say, $195 for extended psychotherapy. If your deductible is paid, you might just owe a $30 copay or 20% coinsurance (so $39 for a $195 session), depending on your plan. These details mean your out-of-pocket cost can change even for the exact same service at the same clinic.

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Without insurance, you'll pay significantly more—typically $250–$400 for evaluations and $200–$410 per treatment session. Below, we'll break down the specific costs for each type of service you're likely to encounter.

What should you expect to pay for mental health counseling with insurance?

In-network mental health counseling costs in Anchorage, Alaska, are based on negotiated rates between your insurance company and providers, which represent the maximum amount your insurer will pay for covered services. Based on our analysis of negotiated rate contracts from Alaska-based providers for three major insurers, Aetna offers the lowest rates across most services while Moda provides significantly lower pricing but with very limited network access.

Insurance Coverage Comparison for Mental Health Counseling in Anchorage, Alaska

CPT 90791 — Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation

• Aetna: $200.81
• Premera: $216.05
• Moda: $129.00

CPT 90837 — Psychotherapy, 60 minutes

• Aetna: $170.75
• Premera: $194.73
• Moda: $90.00

CPT 96130 — Psychological Testing Evaluation (1st hour)

• Aetna: $136.46
• Premera: $219.12
• Moda: N/A

Sample Size

• Aetna: 259 providers
• Premera: 529 providers
• Moda: 2 providers

Analysis limited to three major payers and does not reflect rates from all available insurance options in Anchorage, Alaska.

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Aetna offers the most competitive rates for both psychiatric evaluation services (CPT 90791) at $200.81 and extended psychotherapy sessions (CPT 90837) at $170.75. However, Premera provides moderate pricing across services with the largest provider network. The substantial difference in Moda's pricing may reflect their smaller provider network in Anchorage, Alaska, with only 2 contracted providers compared to Premera's 529.

Why do rates vary so much?

Mental health counseling rates in Anchorage vary so much because:

• Each insurance company negotiates different rates with providers, leading to wide differences in costs.
• Smaller provider networks (like Moda) may pay clinics higher rates to attract participation, while larger networks (like Premera) negotiate lower rates.
• Different CPT codes pay different amounts based on the service's complexity and time requirements.

In short, rates reflect insurance negotiations, network size, Alaska's higher medical costs, and service complexity.

What should you expect to pay without insurance?

Alaska Statute 18.23.400 requires healthcare providers to publish their standard charges for common procedures. These rates typically represent the full cost of services when insurance is not used.

Select Mental Health Providers in Anchorage, Alaska

Fireweed Counseling & Wellness (4.3/5, 6 reviews)

• CPT 90791: $395.00
• CPT 90837: $295.00
• CPT 96130: Not listed

Lantern Counseling (No rating data)

• CPT 90791: $275.00
• CPT 90837: $200.00
• CPT 96130: Not listed

Alaska Telepsychology (No rating data)

• CPT 90791: $409.72
• CPT 90837: $363.94
• CPT 96130: $350.75

White Wave Counseling (5.0/5, 1 review)

• CPT 90791: Not listed
• CPT 90837: $230–$275
• CPT 96130: Not listed

Bridges Counseling (2.7/5, 39 reviews)

• CPT 90791: Not listed
• CPT 90837: Not listed
• CPT 96130: Not listed

North Star Behavioral Health (1.7/5, 135 reviews)

• CPT 90791: Not listed
• CPT 90837: Not listed
• CPT 96130: Not listed

Alaska Behavioral Health (2.4/5, 37 reviews)

• CPT 90791: Not listed
• CPT 90837: Not listed
• CPT 96130: Not listed

Lantern Counseling publishes transparent pricing for evaluations at $275.00 for CPT 90791, while Alaska Telepsychology charges $409.72 for evaluations but offers comprehensive rates for psychotherapy at $363.94 and psychological testing at $350.75. Fireweed Counseling & Wellness offers standardized evaluation rates of $395.00 and psychotherapy sessions at $295.00 for their counseling services in Anchorage, Alaska.

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Based on our research, several Anchorage mental health providers have implemented online rate transparency in compliance with Alaska law AS 18.23.400. Patients should contact providers directly to request Good Faith Estimates, which are legally required to be provided within specific timeframes.

How can you get accurate cost estimates for mental health counseling in Anchorage?

The most reliable way to determine your mental health counseling costs is to request a Good Faith Estimate from your chosen provider before treatment begins. Under Alaska Statute 18.23.400, providers must provide these estimates within ten days after receiving a request for non-emergency healthcare services.

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This Alaska requirement differs from the federal Good Faith Estimate requirements under the No Surprises Act, which apply to uninsured and self-pay patients with different timelines: within one business day if scheduled 3–9 days in advance, or within three business days if scheduled 10 or more days in advance. Alaska's law provides a longer response timeframe but applies more broadly to all patients requesting estimates.

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Disclaimer
The rate information presented in this article is derived from publicly available Machine Readable Files (MRFs) provided by insurance payers. This analysis focuses on select insurers and will not reflect rates from all available insurance options. While Fuse makes every effort to provide accurate and current information, healthcare pricing can change frequently, and individual circumstances may affect actual costs. This information should not be considered a guarantee of specific pricing. Patients should always contact their healthcare providers directly to request Good Faith Estimates and verify current rates before receiving treatment.

Fuse recently had the opportunity to attend and present at the Alaska chapter of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) conference—a key gathering for forward-thinking healthcare leaders seeking solutions in cost management and technology. Our co-founders, Sho Sugihara and Oscar Wilsby, spoke on the transformative impact of Machine Readable Files (MRFs) mandated by CMS’s Transparency in Coverage Rule, emphasizing their pivotal role in making healthcare pricing both fair and transparent for patients and providers.

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Why Machine Readable Files Matter

MRFs, first required in July 2022, offer unprecedented insight into both in-network and out-of-network rates, publicly surfacing negotiated prices for medical procedures nationwide. Fuse’s talk highlighted how this data, when processed properly, allows for apples-to-apples comparisons, empowering providers to benchmark contract rates and patients to better predict out-of-pocket costs. This advance brings us closer to a healthcare system where pricing is no longer a black box.

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Doing the Heavy Lifting

At Fuse, we’re committed to making these enormous, complex datasets actionable. Our solutions take on the heavy lifting: downloading hundreds of gigabytes, untangling payer quirks, and filtering out “zombie rates” and data noise. While MRF data is an incredible opportunity, it has limitations—ambiguities, contract exclusions, and technical hurdles do exist, and careful clean-up is essential. Our goal is to give consumers, providers, and payers usable, trustworthy pricing information without glossing over what’s challenging about the data.

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Making Healthcare Fair for All

As we shared at MGMA Alaska, the future of healthcare pricing is bright if MRF data can be vetted and presented cleanly. This transformation will allow providers to negotiate fairly and patients to choose care with confidence. We’re excited to be driving this progress and are always eager to collaborate with organizations and experts making healthcare more transparent and equitable.

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If you’d like a copy of our presentation or wish to discuss Fuse’s approach to MRF data and price transparency, please get in touch!

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Press Release

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San Francisco, CA — Fuse, the healthcare technology startup, is proud to announce that co-founders Sho Sugihara (CEO) and Oscar Wilsby (CTO) have joined the Summer 2024 batch at Y Combinator, beginning July 2024.

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Widely regarded as the world’s most selective and influential startup accelerator, Y Combinator has a strong track record of backing transformative companies across industries—including healthcare firmslike DrChrono and Athelas. The selective nature of Y Combinator’s application process means only a small fraction of startups earn the opportunity to join, placing Fuse among a distinguished group of global innovators.

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“We’re honoured to be part of a program that has propelled so many market-leading companies, including pioneers in healthtech,” said Sho Sugihara, CEO and Co-Founder of Fuse. “With Y Combinator’s support, we’re excited to accelerate our mission to address healthcare’s greatest challenges.”

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Fuse’s acceptance into Y Combinator brings access to a world-class network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. As alumni of the accelerator, Sugihara and Wilsby will gain new platforms to advance Fuse’s vision for healthcare workforce innovation—joining the ranks of influential startups that have shaped industries worldwide.

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For more information about Fuse and its solutions, visit the company website.

Press Release:

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Las Vegas, NV — Fuse, a healthcare technology innovator, has been recognized as a Winner’s Circle startup in the Hospital Systems – Workforce/Staffing Shortages category at the HIMSS Emerge Innovation Experience Contest 2025. This annual event, one of the largest conferences in healthcare and hosted at the HIMSS Global Health Conference, spotlights forward-thinking solutions that address critical challenges facing the healthcare sector.

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As part of the Winner’s Circle, Fuse earned selection for its impact in supporting healthcare providers to solve staffing and workforce shortages—one of the most urgent issues in care delivery. Winner’s Circle honorees are celebrated with special event recognition, curated meetings with healthcare C-suite leaders, and inclusion in HIMSS’s post-conference global marketing, providing platforms for further collaboration and visibility in the healthcare ecosystem.

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“We’re honoured to be included alongside so many outstanding innovators,” said Sho Sugihara, CEO and Co-Founder of Fuse. “At a time when provider workforce challenges are at the forefront, this recognition affirms the value of our work and drives us to keep advancing real-world solutions.”

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A full list of winners is available in the official announcement from HIMSS at: https://www.himssconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/EmergeWinners2025.pdf. Learn more about the Emerge Innovation Experience: https://www.himssconference.com/emerge-innovation-experience/.

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For more information about Fuse and its solutions, visit the website.

Press Release:

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Nashville, TN — Fuse, a healthcare technology company, was named the winner of the ViVE 2025 Startup Pitch Competition, an event that spotlights promising new solutions in digital health. The competition, held during the ViVE Event in Nashville, brought together startups from across the industry to share advancements aimed at improving healthcare delivery.

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Fuse’s solution was selected by a panel of industry experts for its potential to support better price transparency for patients and contribute meaningfully to the healthcare ecosystem. As part of this recognition, Fuse will receive a $25,000 cash prize from HLTH and a $25,000 credit toward ViVE 2026.

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“We’re grateful to the ViVE organizers and judges for this opportunity,” said Sho Sugihara, CEO and Co-Founder of Fuse. “It’s an honor to be included alongside so many innovative companies, and we’re excited to continue our work in collaboration with the broader healthcare community.”

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The ViVE Startup Pitch Competition, along with the AgeTech Pitch presented by AARP’s AgeTech Collaborative™, highlights emerging talent and creative approaches to challenges in health and aging.

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For more information about Fuse and its initiatives, visit the website.

How Do Physical Therapy Costs in Anchorage Compare

If you're seeking physical therapy in Anchorage, you're probably wondering what it will actually cost you. Unfortunately, the answer isn't straightforward; it depends heavily on your insurance plan and where you go for treatment.

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A typical physical therapy journey may involve three services: an initial evaluation to assess your condition ($99–$301 with insurance), therapeutic exercises to build strength and mobility ($45–$88 per session), and hands-on manual therapy for pain relief ($45–$81 per session). Most patients attend PT 2-3 times per week for 4-8 weeks, so understanding these costs up front can help you budget for treatment and choose the most affordable provider for your situation.

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How much you pay with insurance depends on several details: It varies based on whether you've met your deductible, what your plan charges for copays and coinsurance, and if your plan uses a flat copay or a percentage (coinsurance) for each type of physical therapy service. For example, if your deductible isn’t met, you’ll pay the full negotiated rate—say, $58 for therapeutic exercise. If your deductible is paid, you might just owe a $30 copay or 20% coinsurance (so $12 for a $58 session), depending on your plan. These details mean your out-of-pocket cost can change even for the exact same service at the same clinic.

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Without insurance, you'll pay significantly more—typically $200–$350 for evaluations and $95–$120 per treatment session. Below, we'll break down the specific costs for each type of service you're likely to encounter.

What should you expect to pay for physical therapy with insurance?

In-network physical therapy costs in Anchorage, Alaska, are based on negotiated rates between your insurance company and providers, which represent the maximum amount your insurer will pay for covered services. Based on our analysis of negotiated rate contracts from Alaska-based providers for three major insurers, Aetna offers the lowest evaluation rates while Premera provides more competitive pricing for treatment services.

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Insurance Coverage Comparison for Physical Therapy in Anchorage, Alaska

• CPT 97161 — PT Evaluation
  • Aetna: $99.02
  • Premera: $133.65
  • Moda: $301.00
• CPT 97110 — Therapeutic Exercise (15 min)
  • Aetna: $58.10
  • Premera: $47.85
  • Moda: $87.40
• CPT 97140 — Manual Therapy (15 min)
  • Aetna: $53.78
  • Premera: $44.00
  • Moda: $80.38
• Sample Size
  • Aetna: 391 providers
  • Premera: 1,008 providers
  • Moda: 22 providers

Analysis limited to three major payers and does not reflect rates from all available insurance options in Anchorage, Alaska.

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Aetna offers the most competitive rates for physical therapy evaluation services (CPT 97161) at $99.02, making them significantly more affordable than Moda's rate of $301.00. However, Premera offers the lowest rates for both therapeutic exercise (CPT 97110) at $47.85 and manual therapy (CPT 97140) at $44.00. The substantial difference in Moda's pricing may reflect their smaller provider network in Anchorage, Alaska, with only 22 contracted providers compared to Premera's 1,008.

Why do rates vary so much?

Physical therapy rates in Anchorage vary so much because:

• Each insurance company negotiates different rates with providers, leading to wide differences in costs.
• Smaller provider networks (like Moda) may pay clinics higher rates to attract participation, while larger networks (like Premera) negotiate lower rates.
• Different CPT codes pay different amounts based on the service's complexity.

In short, rates reflect insurance negotiations, network size, Alaska’s higher medical costs, and service complexity.

What should you expect to pay without insurance?

Alaska Statute 18.23.400 requires healthcare providers to publish their standard charges for common procedures. These rates typically represent the full cost of services when insurance is not used.

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‍Select Physical Therapy Providers in Anchorage, Alaska

• Empower Physical Therapy (5/5, 310 reviews)
  • CPT 97161: $225.00
  • CPT 97110: $110.00
  • CPT 97140: $95.00
• Runners' Edge Alaska (5/5, 65 reviews)
  • CPT 97161: $350.00
  • CPT 97110: $105.00
  • CPT 97140: $95.00
• Integrative Physical Therapy (4.9/5, 85 reviews)
  • CPT 97161: $216.00
  • CPT 97110: $108.00
  • CPT 97140: $83.00
• United Physical Therapy (5/5, 163 reviews)
  • CPT 97161: $295.00
  • CPT 97110: $121.00
  • CPT 97140: $120.00
• Advanced Physical Therapy (4.9/5, 185 reviews)
  • CPT 97161: $260.00
  • CPT 97110: $98.00
  • CPT 97140: $93.00

Empower Physical Therapy publishes transparent pricing for evaluations at $225.00 for CPT 97161, while Runners' Edge Alaska charges $350.00 for evaluations but offers competitive rates for therapeutic exercise at $105.00 and manual therapy at $95.00. All For Kids Pediatric Therapy offers standardized evaluation rates of $260.00 and therapeutic exercises at $90.00 for their specialized pediatric services in Anchorage, Alaska.

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Based on our research, several Anchorage physical therapy providers have implemented online rate transparency in compliance with Alaska law AS 18.23.400. Patients should contact providers directly to request Good Faith Estimates, which are legally required to be provided within specific timeframes.

How can you get accurate cost estimates for physical therapy in Anchorage?

The most reliable way to determine your physical therapy costs is to request a Good Faith Estimate from your chosen provider before treatment begins. Under Alaska Statute 18.23.400, providers must provide these estimates within ten days after receiving a request for non-emergency healthcare services.

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This Alaska requirement differs from the federal Good Faith Estimate requirements under the No Surprises Act, which apply to uninsured and self-pay patients with different timelines: within one business day if scheduled 3–9 days in advance, or within three business days if scheduled 10 or more days in advance. Alaska's law provides a longer response timeframe but applies more broadly to all patients requesting estimates.

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Disclaimer
The rate information presented in this article is derived from publicly available Machine Readable Files (MRFs) provided by insurance payers. This analysis focuses on select insurers and will not reflect rates from all available insurance options. While Fuse makes every effort to provide accurate and current information, healthcare pricing can change frequently, and individual circumstances may affect actual costs. This information should not be considered a guarantee of specific pricing. Patients should always contact their healthcare providers directly to request Good Faith Estimates and verify current rates before receiving treatment.