Massachusetts is a step closer to rolling out its price comparison web tool for common healthcare procedures following years of holdup, The Boston Globe reports.
Massachusetts' Center for Health Information and Analysis paid RainCastle Communications in Newton, Mass., more than $294,000 to create and launch the website. The site will include average prices for dozens of common medical procedures, in addition to health insurance information and hospital-specific safety and quality measures.
The state previously unveiled a basic price comparison website as a requirement of two health bills, one passed in 2006 mandating universal healthcare coverage and one passed in 2012 aimed at controlling healthcare costs. However, the site was taken down in 2015 due to its lack of usability, The Boston Globe reports. Since the site was dismantled, CHIA has been in the process of determining what kind of site would best assists consumers while factoring in cost of implementation.
The new site is set to launch in September.