HOSPITALS REACT CAUTIOUSLY TO STATE COST COMPARISON PROPOSAL

Gov. John Ashcroft has proposed legislation requiring hospitals to disclose comparative cost and medical-results data to help consumers make better informed decisions about health care.

Hospital spokesmen said it is good to have well-informed consumers, but they urged caution when comparisons are drawn on hospitals across the state.

Missouri does not require hospitals to disclose such information, but many, including Southeast Missouri Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center, voluntarily report on costs in a Missouri Hospital Association publication.

Ashcroft's proposal would make the Missouri Department of Health responsible for collecting, analyzing and distributing the information.

James Wente, administrator at Southeast hospital, said: "My initial reaction is that this makes good, common sense, and I believe our charge data and quality data here in Cape Girardeau at both hospitals will fare very well when compared to other hospitals in the state.

"I do not view this as a threat at all," Wente said. "In fact, it might instill some further confidence in our patients that they are receiving quality care in Cape Girardeau, and at a fair price."

He said when data is used to compare hospitals throughout the state the data should be carefully collected.

"There are so many variables that affect outcomes and cost," Wente said.

"When these kinds of comparisons are drawn, it is absolutely critical that they compare the same diagnosis and the same cost data. Obviously, if a patient comes in for a procedure but then has a complication, the cost will be higher."

Wente said he's not surprised Ashcroft is proposing such health-care legislation.

"I think that right now health-care economics is a popular topic for any politician to discuss," he said.

Jay Wolz, spokesman for St. Francis Medical Center, said: "We don't object to financial data disclosure, but when you start talking about legislation you are adding another level of bureaucracy and increased costs to the state to monitor this information. It would mean more paper work and red tape."

Concerning releasing comparable medical results, Wolz said, "We feel there are probably too many variables for a clear comparison to be drawn.

"And, as the information is voluntarily reported now, the information is over a year old when it's published. Just how valid is the data after a year?

"We do have some reservations about the proposal. There are a lot of questions to be answered."

Julie Simpson, a spokesman with the Missouri Hospital Association, said, "We are definitely interested in sitting down with (the governor) to see what he feels will be beneficial."

"Currently we do disclose data on a voluntary basis in the form of the Top 25 DRG book," Simpson said. "That is one thing we feel is very beneficial to patients and consumers."

The association publishes hospital-specific information on hospital charges for the 25 most frequent reasons for admission and their average lengths of stay. The information is categorized in terms of diagnostic-related groups, or DRGs.

Simpson said about 90 to 95 percent of all hospitals in the state are already reporting in that publication.

Said Simpson: "The Missouri Hospital Association has always felt that, the more informed patients are about their health care, the better patients they will be, and ultimately the better care they will receive. They will be prepared to ask the right questions. Even knowing the cost factors may provide a little more comfort for patients."

The association sends news releases to media about the publication and copies of the book are sent to every public library in the state, Simpson said.