Virginia Health Care Price Transparency Nationally Recognized

Virginia Health Information Issues Reports on Consumer Costs for Health Care Services

RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the price of health care increases, employers struggle to control costs and maintain employee health care benefits.  One strategy increases the amount employees pay in deductibles or co-pays.  With more money coming out of their pockets, information on the costs of care can help consumers make more informed health care purchasing decisions. 

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Virginia Health Information (VHI) today released the 2013 Health Care Pricing Report, available free to the public at http://www.vhi.org/health_care_prices.asp.   As one of VHI's health care transparency reports, the pricing reports go well beyond just prices.  Consumers can choose from over 30 services including tests, surgeries, doctor visits and emergency room care.  For each service, VHI provides:

• A clear description of the service
• Why you may need the service
• Links to videos on the service and more details from experts
• The average amount health insurance companies pay providers.

"What is unique about our report is not only providing the what and why for the service, but comparisons of costs between similar services provided in a doctor's office, ambulatory surgical center, or hospital," says Michael T. Lundberg, VHI's Executive Director.  Visitors can learn more about knee and shoulder surgery, CT scans, MRIs and over two dozen other commonly performed services. 

Transparency in health care prices is a national issue with states taking on the challenges to collect and share this information with the public.  Virginia's efforts have not gone unnoticed.  Earlier this year, Virginia was recognized as one of the top states for information on health care prices.  See http://www.vhi.org/transparency_laws.asp.  States varied quite a bit with two states graded an A and five states receiving a B.  Twenty-nine states scored a F.  Virginia ranks in the top seven states nationwide with a B for laws requiring collection of this information and easy access to health care prices on VHI's website. 

Since its start in 1993, VHI has supported and advocated for health care transparency in Virginia. VHI is the non-profit organization the Commonwealth of Virginia recognizes as Virginia's Consumer Health Information Portal.

Press Contact:
Virginia Health Information
Michael T. Lundberg, Executive Director
Phone: 804-644-7026 or Toll Free: 1-877-VHI-INFO
Web Site: www.vhi.org

SOURCE Virginia Health Information