Would You Like a Side of Artificial Intelligence With Your Mammogram? An Experimental Study of Patient Willingness to Pay for Artificial Intelligence.

BACKGROUND

Some radiology practices ask patients to pay out of pocket for supplemental artificial intelligence (AI) interpretations of screening mammograms.

PURPOSE: To determine if different price points and information conditions influence patient willingness to pay for AI.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Women aged 40+ with a prior mammogram were recruited from an online research platform and asked if they would pay for supplemental AI interpretations after being randomized to different price points ($50, $200, $500) and information conditions (no AI information, two AI accuracy rates, two AI error rates) versus a no AI condition. If respondents declined, they were asked why (cannot afford it versus don't think it is worth it). Statistical analysis assessed permutations of the price points and information conditions.

RESULTS

There were 2,534 respondents (median age 53 years [interquartile range: 46-61]). Among information conditions, respondents were most likely to pay for AI when shown an advertisement (26.5%) or good AI accuracy rates (25.3%) and least likely to pay when shown good (14.2%) or poor (7%) AI error rates (P < .0001). Among price conditions, respondents were more likely to pay for less expensive AI (P < .0001): 24.4% at $50, 17.1% at $200, and 13.4% at $500. Reasons for declining AI use varied by information condition and price point (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

A woman's willingness to pay for AI to interpret her mammogram varies according to price and the type of AI information presented. Radiology practices may wish to consider these findings when presenting patients with an option to pay for AI interpretation.