Aetna to post cost, performance data on Web


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By Vandana Sinha - Business Journals
Aug 18, 2006 -- 2:06 PM PDT


Aetna plans to introduce on Saturday a secure Web site where it is posting cost and performance data for its participating physicians in the Washington area.

After a pilot program launched last year in Cincinnati, the insurance company is expanding the online campaign to 10 regions nationwide, including Washington, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Patients can log onto a password-protected member site to see how much area physicians charge for up to 30 of their most-used medical services and how they fare in an Aetna analysis of clinical performance.


http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-61477-m-61-s...rmance_data_on_web-i


I would have like to see a follow up article to this story. What are some of the implications of a patient having access to cost information and how might this information affect physicians?

Will this empower patients to receive better quality of care or is this a "scared straight" warning to physicians?