DENVER, Nov. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue
Shield in Colorado announced today the expansion of its
industry-leading transparency initiative beyond major metro areas
into the entire state. Colorado members from Silverton to
Sterling and everywhere in between can now access Anthem Care
Comparison, an online tool that provides medical cost information
for 59 specific medical procedures performed at local area
hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and free-standing radiology
facilities. The procedures now include office visit and
chiropractic visit costs.
“Through this sophisticated tool, our members have access to the
costs associated with all aspects of a specific medical procedure
– not just the cost of the procedure itself, but also the
costs of the entire spectrum of care, from lab tests to recovery
room charges,” said John Martie, president and general manager of
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado. “These medical care
cost estimates will help our members better understand the overall
costs they are likely to incur before a medical service is
provided.”
Anthem Care Comparison has been available in major Colorado
cities such as Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Grand Junction
since 2008, and this month it rolled out to the entire state. In
addition, Care Comparison added information for another 20
procedures for a total of 59, including brain MRIs, knee
replacement surgery and screening colonoscopies. The cost
information is facility specific, so members can compare the
differences in cost among hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers
and/or free standing imaging centers. Anthem members can also
obtain information on how frequently facilities perform each
procedure, which can assist the member in assessing the care they
seek.
With the expansion of this online resource, individual and group
members throughout Colorado join 24 million Anthem and other Blue
Cross and Blue Shield m
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