Submitted by Gov. Jay Inslee’s Office

Would you like to know how much a medical procedure costs, on average, and all of the medical offices close to your home?

Those are the types of information easily accessed through Washington state’s new HealthCareCompare website at www.wahealthcarecompare.com. The online tool launched in June. The website is part of the state’s larger effort to make health care costs more transparent, and provides access to health care price and quality information from the Washington All-Payer Claims Database. The database is the result of legislation proposed by Washinton state Gov. Jay Inslee.

Currently, 20 states have databases, but Washington is one of only six states making such data easily accessible online.

“Health care can be an enormous expense for many families, and giving people a way to compare the prices and quality will help people be better informed and prepared about their options,” Inslee said. “It’s also enormously helpful for lawmakers, employers and providers to have increased transparency about the costs related to using and buying health care.”

For more information, visit www.governor.wa.gov.