Michigan hospitals posting prices of common services online

Henry Ford Health System, Oakwood Healthcare, and Spectrum Health are posting average prices for common tests and procedures online, and consumers are loving it. Henry Ford’s pricing site sees 2,000 visitors a day, and the health system has expanded its use of pricing specialists and financial counselors to help customers find health insurance or find other ways to pay their healthcare bills, according to the Detroit Free Press. By 2014, the federal government will require all U.S. hospitals to post costs for their most common services. It may be time to look to Michigan for a model.