Governor Perdue Announces Support of Health Care Transparency

Governor Perdue Announces Support of Health Care Transparency

Applauds Presidential Executive Order; Points to Similar Actions Already Taken in Georgia

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today his support of President Bush and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt’s efforts to provide consumers with transparency in health care costs. He pointed to actions already taken in Georgia to accomplish similar goals.

“Consumers in today’s marketplace are sophisticated when they have access to information, enabling them to make informed decisions about the services and products they purchase. Decisions on health care should be no different,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “President Bush’s action today will encourage transparency in the health care industry and help families make informed decisions based on the costs and the quality of the services they receive. Georgia has already taken steps to bring transparency to our health care industry and I look forward to partnering with the federal government to move this plan forward.”

In 2005 the state of Georgia submitted to HHS a plan to modernize Medicaid in Georgia. A critical component of the plan was the concept of marketplace transparency within the health care industry. The plan proposes giving health care consumers the opportunity to select providers and health care services based on costs and the quality of the service.

Governor Perdue announced today that state agencies responsible for the administration of health care coverage in Georgia will adopt similar measures to those announced today by the President. Governor Perdue said he hopes large employers in the private sector will follow the example of state government and select health care providers to encourage transparency.

Today President Bush signed an executive order directing agencies that administer or support health insurance programs to take steps that will result in more complete and open information for consumers. According to HHS, the executive order requires federal agencies that administer or support health insurance programs to share information about the quality of care delivered by doctors and hospitals, as well as the prices paid to these providers.

The order also requires agencies and their health care contractors to promote the use of interoperable health information technology products, so that data can be easily shared. In addition, it requires agencies to offer insurance options that reward consumers who exercise choice among health providers based on value and quality of care.

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