Nevada rule requires hospitals to post quality info

The state of Nevada has passed a new law which requires hospitals to submit quality and cost information to state officials. The information, which will include average lengths of stay and average charges for the top 50 diagnoses, will be posted on a Web site by 2009. While the Nevada Hospital Association already shares data on its members' prices, it hasn't posted quality of care information. Nevada follows several other states which have taken similar steps [1] over the past year.

The new quality requirements come as part of a larger healthcare legislation package. Other new measures require the state to establish an advanced healthcare directive registry and to begin research on how placing stem cells in individuals might cure diseases.

To learn more about the law:
- read this Associated Press piece [2]

ALSO: Several Colorado hospitals have begun sharing estimates of the out-of-pocket costs patients may incur. Article [3]

Related Articles:
HHS plans quality info exchanges. Report [4]
US healthcare quality movement stalls at a critical juncture. Release [5]
Cincinnati hospitals publish quality data. Report [6]
ACP publishes quality measurement tools. Report [7]