Ohio to Post Hospital Rankings on Web

By the middle of next year, consumers will be able to go to the Ohio Department of Health’s Web site to compare Ohio hospitals’ costs and quality of care.  Gov. Bob Taft on Wednesday signed legislations that will force hospitals to provide more information about the quality of medical care they provide and how much it costs.  Rep. Jim Raussen (R-Springdale) the bill’s primary sponsor, said the new law will help consumers make better-informed decisions about where to have their medical procedures performed.  About 15 states have approved similar legislation.  The new law will require all Ohio hospitals to report to ODH information on dozens of scientifically based quality indicators that have been developed by nationally recognized health care organizations.  The reports must include the costs of the top 60 inpatient and outpatient procedures they perform.  The new law will take effect 90 days from its signing, but it is estimated it will take the department of health until the middle of 2007 to create a working database and be able to provide access to it on its Web site.