When and where did NH, Maine test transparency with health cost tools (AP)?
When Laura Davie’s doctor suggested she go to the hospital next door for her first mammogram last year, she went online instead. Though she ultimately chose the facility her physician recommended, Davie used New Hampshire’s HealthCost Web site to compare how much her insurer would pay various hospitals for the procedure. “I was surprised by the spread, and I was surprised by cost, and I was surprised by how much less the hospital in Massachusetts was compared to the hospitals in my area of New Hampshire,” said Davie, who lives in Barrington and works at the University of New Hampshire. “I found it very user friendly and very easy to see the differences.” As employers continue to shift costs to workers through high-deductible health plans, consumers are starting to shop around. Even though Davie’s relatively low deductible meant she would pay the same amount anywhere, she wanted to choose the least costly option to send a message to her employer and insurer. “I really want to see what’s
