Aetna announced that as of August 18, consumers will have online access to physician-specific actual costs, clinical quality, and efficiency information in select markets for 14,800 specialists and 70,000 physicians. Aetna launched a transparency pilot project in the Cincinnati area in August 2005 that gave consumers physician-specific pricing for 5,000 physicians and physician groups, and found that between 600 and 1,000 consumers a month accessed the information. In the expanded version of pricing and quality data, Aetna members can view actual rates specific to their health plan for office visits, diagnostic tests, minor procedures, major procedures, and other services. The physician-specific clinical quality and efficiency data are taken from Aetna’s Aexcel network, which vets specialists for their delivery of care, including prevalence of complications and repeat procedures. The web site will show whether the physician has met the Aexcel criteria for clinical performance, efficiency and volume of Aetna members treated. Aetna claims it is the first insurer to provide such extensive cost and quality information on physicians. (Read the Aetna announcement.)
