INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Quality and charge data is now available for the 50 most frequent outpatient procedures in Indiana via the Indiana Hospital Association’s mycareINsight.org, making the free tool even more useful to Hoosiers seeking to learn more about charge and quality data.
In 2015, IHA launched the charge and quality transparency website to help consumers better understand what goes into hospital billing and the services available in their community. This year, they have launched an updated and enhanced tool.
“We initially created mycareINsight to clear up some of the confusion around health care pricing that has gone on for years,” said Doug Leonard, president of IHA. “Our goal was to create an easy-to-use tool to make price and quality data available to the public so Hoosiers could make a more fully informed decision about their health care. We continue to improve upon that commitment by providing more information and refined resources.”
The website displays hospital charge data compiled from the Indiana State Department of Health, based on the 100 most common inpatient services in Indiana. It now also includes the 50 most common outpatient services. It is updated annually as this data is made available to ensure consumers are getting the most accurate insights.
A search engine function allows users to look up charges by location, hospital and/or procedure, as well as compare hospitals side-by-side. It also provides tips, frequently asked questions and links to additional resources.
“Complex pricing factors for health care services mean almost everyone pays a different rate,” said Martin Padgett, president and CEO of Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville and president of the IHA Board of Directors. “Our transparency tool is intended to educate Hoosiers, answer their questions and empower them in their care decisions.”
The website does not contain hospital data from private insurance companies, which negotiate payment rates with hospitals and garner discounts for higher volumes.
IHA encourages consumers to consider price as just one factor in their health care choices. People can use mycareINsight to view and compare hospital quality measure data, such as patient satisfaction, mortalities, readmissions, early elective deliveries and infections. Information is also available on what these measures mean.
“The quality of the care patients receive is just as important as the price, which is why we focus equally on the two, helping to paint an accurate picture for the consumer,” said Leonard. “It is important to see other patients’ outcomes when evaluating treatment options.”
Health care systems have been experiencing massive change, and hospitals have been actively working to reduce their own costs below historic levels by cutting administrative expenses, better managing supply costs and streamlining patient flow. Hospitals and health systems are redesigning the process of care to improve the value for patients by collaborating with physicians, identifying unnecessary variations in practice patterns and developing standardized protocols for procedures.
“Indiana hospitals and their more than 110,000 employees are a vital part of their communities,” said Leonard. “The services they provide extend well beyond the four walls of a hospital, encompassing programs and partnerships that promote healthier lifestyles and provide basic needs to Hoosiers every day.”
