| The Ohio Senate May 24th approved a bill that would allow residents to go online to compare the quality, safety and cost of hospitals in the state. The bill now goes to Gov. Bob Taft for consideration. The bill would let users compare on a Web site how often certain medical procedures are performed at a hospital, average lengths of stay and mortality rates. The Web site also would let consumers compare the cost of private and semiprivate rooms, the 30 most common X-rays and services in emergency, operating and delivery rooms. Hospitals starting in May 2007 would provide data to the Ohio Department of Health, and the data then would be posted online two months later, according to state Rep. Jim Raussen (R), sponsor of the bill. Some Ohio residents said the Web site does not go far enough because it would not provide consumers with the rates hospitals have negotiated with insurers. However, Jeff Klinger -- director of state policy for the Ohio Hospital Association, which originally opposed the bill but now supports it after certain changes were made -- said negotiated rate information would have to be provided by the health plans rather than hospitals.
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