Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Introduces Industry's Most Comprehensive Transparency Initiative to... ( Anthem's Care Comparison Tool Gives ...)

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Introduces Industry's Most Comprehensive Transparency Initiative to Wisconsin

Date:4/30/2008

Anthem's Care Comparison Tool Gives Members in Wisconsin the Most Complete

Picture of Costs Associated with Medical Procedures

MILWAUKEE, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin announced today the launch of its industry-leading transparency initiative in northeastern Wisconsin. With the addition of Wisconsin, now nearly 3 million Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield members will have access to Anthem's Care Comparison, an online tool that provides total estimated costs associated with all aspects of 39 specific medical procedures performed at local area hospitals.

"Our Care Comparison tool allows members to compare prices and the number of procedures by hospital for 39 elective, high volume and expensive inpatient procedures," said Steve Martenet, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. "Anthem's Care Comparison tool will help members assess the costs of each facility so they will have more of the information they need to make the best decision on the care that's right for them. Anthem members can now easily see how their choice of facility can impact their overall out-of-pocket costs."

Anthem's Care Comparison tool enables members to access the typical costs associated with all aspects of a specific medical procedure -- not just the cost of the procedure itself, but the costs of the entire spectrum of care, from lab tests to recovery room charges. In addition, the cost information is facility specific, so members can compare the differences in cost among hospitals. Anthem members can also get information on how frequently facilities perform each procedure, which can assist the member in assessing the care they seek.

Anthem's Care Comparison tool generates this information while also factoring in hospital, physician, and anesthesia costs to help provide a more accurate total cost analysis. These facility-specific medical care cost estimates help consumers understand the
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