Business
Cigna posts prices online
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 19, 2005
Cigna Healthcare says it plans to post online the cost of certain medical procedures. All the information would be available on a secure site available only to members.
Beginning in January 2006, Cigna plans to give patients an average price range of hospital procedures, along with what a patient's out-of-pocket expense would be. The price list for hospitals nationwide would start with 15 common admissions such as for childbirth, angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery.
Already, the company uses a star system that rates hospitals depending on admission prices, but in January, Cigna will also associate an average price along with the star.
Then, in February 2006, Cigna plans to post the prices of 19 surgical procedures, including endoscopies, and arthroscopic joint procedures. The plan will list prices for selected markets first, then expand nationwide later in the year.
In March 2006, Cigna plans to post the average price range for certain types of doctor's visits. The information will not be physician specific.
Cigna earlier this year posted price quotes for various prescriptions, along with actual out-of-pocket expenses. Cigna said posting prices is part of its efforts to get members more involved in their health care decision-making, a trend accelerated by the growing use of flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/12/19/bibf1219.htm.
