In hopes of making choosing health care easier, New Mexico is creating a database with detailed information for all types of medical claims.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the State Human Services Department is expected to award a contract next month for a consultant to help the agency plan the database, which will have information on payment claims from private insurance companies and public payers, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Officials say the database will have information such as where prices are higher, what health plans have the best discounts and which parts of the state have more access to specialists.
The plan comes after the Legislature passed a law requiring the state Health Department to make hospital-specific cost and quality of care information accessible by 2017.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal.
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