World Wide Web
The House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would free up information to consumers about the prices hospitals charge for treatment. The bill, HB 1512, passed 95-1 and was sponsored by Rep. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home.
The information would be made available on a Web site that would be administered by the Arkansas Hospital Association.
So a person could compare, for instance, what Mercy Turner Memorial in Ozark charges for procedures in comparison to Sparks in Fort Smith.
The move to put consumer information online is a nationwide trend. A 2006 report by the American Hospital Association said that 32 states have some mechanism to provide consumers with information, and the number has increased since then.
At press-time, the bill hadn't passed the Senate.
April 2007
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