Business
Ore. offers price comparisons, insurers' discount rates online
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 27, 2007
This month, the state of Oregon launched a Web site (link) giving price comparisons that show what the state's nine largest health insurers paid for 82 common procedures to specific health care facilities in 2005.
While many states offer price comparison tools, most only show what the hospital charges and not what insurers actually pay.
With this database, Oregon joins only two other states -- New Hampshire and Pennsylvania -- known to report discounted rates for insurers.
The data on Oregon's site will not, however, include Medicare and Medicaid information or costs for the uninsured.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/08/27/bibf0827.htm.