Massachusetts Health Shopping Tool a Bust, Attorney General Says

A key health-care cost-cutting effort in Massachusetts failed to win over patients, the attorney general said Oct. 23.

Since 2017, Massachusetts insurers have been required to post the prices for common procedures. The goal is to enable patients to “shop around” for the hospital or doctor group with the lowest price.

But hardly any patients are using the data, Attorney General Maura Healey (D) said. Fewer than 7% of patients have used the online cost comparisons, so the tools haven’t made a dent in helping to lower patient costs and the state’s overall sky-high health costs, Healey said.

AG: Take ...