HealthDecisions.org tracks 7 states movement towards improving health care quality and transparency thorugh legislation or executive order and their advance towards the promise of a value-driven health care system for more Americans. This report focuses on initiatives undertaken by Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Nevada, Arkansas, Utah and Oklahoma.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has expanded its medical cost comparison tool to Ohio, Kentucky and all of Indiana. A previous blog on this site (4/30) outlined Anthem BCBS's inital launch of their online comparison tool in Central Indiana as part of the push to provide consumers with price, quality information for medical care. Anthem BCBS will continue to expand its transparency tool pilot program to new markets, a move that reflects the growing consumer-directed healthcare trend.

The Courier-Journal.com: The state of Kentucky has launched a Web site where consumers can find data about the quality of care at Kentucky hospitals. The site, healthdata.chfs.ky.gov, also provides links to other hospital-comparison sites, including the Kentucky Hospital Association’s listing of median prices at hospitals for various procedures.

Read full news item: The Courier Journal