CalPERS To Launch Website With Health Care Cost, Quality Data
CalPERS has announced plans to introduce a new health care transparency website next month aimed at increasing members' access to information about health care costs and quality, Government Technology reports (Hanson, Government Technology, 5/19).
Details of Website
The site --which will be operated by Castlight Health -- will allow members of CalPERS' Preferred Provider Organization to log in and see cost information for medical tests and procedures, as well as quality information on hospitals and physicians.
Specifically, members will be able to compare health care entities by:
- Convenience (Castlight Health release, 2/19);
- Copayments;
- Deductibles (Government Technology, 5/19);
- Facility quality;
- Patient satisfaction; and
- Physician quality.
Consumers will be able to access the database through:
- The website;
- A mobile application; and
- Live telephone support.
Ann Boynton, deputy executive officer of CalPERS' Benefit Programs Policy and Planning branch, said the site will represent the "'gold standard' of transparency," adding that the information "will be invaluable" to the pension fund's members.
CalPERS plans to conduct a two-year study to examine:
- Use of the site; and
- Health care utilization trends among consumers who use the database and those who do not (Castlight Health release, 2/19).