Massachusetts requires insurers to provide healthcare prices

This month Massachusetts became the first state to require health insurers and hospitals to make real-time pricing for healthcare services readily accessible to consumers.

 

Due to a law passed two years ago aimed at increasing transparency, residents with private health insurance are now able to log into their insurers’ website to find the pricing for services ranging from office visits to bone density tests.  

 

First impressions of the pricing tools found some interesting details, such as pricing for the same service varying from one insurer to the next, as well as among different providers. For example, pricing for an upper back MRI ranged from $614 to nearly triple at $1,800.

 

There are issues with the pricing tool. For example, listings may not include additional fees, pricing for most inpatient care is not listed, and there is little information regarding quality of care.