Task force considers adding Web access to health care

If a pivotal piece of proposed legislation now being reviewed by a special task force is adopted, Utah would become the first state in the country to make getting health insurance similar to booking a flight online.

Whether Utahns actually want that much control over their own health, and whether the health-care system and insurance industry can change enough to allow it to work at all remain to be seen. In any case, task force members believe giving consumers Internet access to private and government health insurance Web sites and comparisons of plans they offer is critical to the success of a consumer/market-driven system they're designing.

"It will take a whole truckload of tools to make (the new system) work," Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara, task force co-chairman, said during a Thursday meeting. "We are trying to build in transparency and give the consumer base the power to make informed choices."

Reforming the system is an ambitious effort based on consumers being motivated enough to find out costs and how well an insurance plan would work for them. They could also pick their own individual insurance plan, and opt out of the coverage offered through the workplace, which is where most currently get their insurance coverage.

If the reform goes as envisioned, consumers would have enough data available to shop online for the best and least expensive doctor, surgeon, procedure or pill. They would be able to compare best outcome data from various centers and area hospitals before having elective surgery. And that decision would come after a careful consultation with their doctor or surgeon, who would be practicing in a new incentive structure based on the results and quality of services provided, not just financial rewards.

The technology that brought passengers the capacity to make every type of travel arrangement from a computer can do the same for health-care consumers and providers, task force members were told.

Some of the task force members fully endorsed the notion of putting health insurance literally in the laps of consumers. "Having a Travelocity for health-care insurance is a very exciting notion," said task force member Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan. Rep. Bradley Daw, R-Orem, a member of the Health Data Advisory Committee, believes providing a portal to information and outcomes data could be "a kind of Consumer Reports for health care."