The Alaska Division of Insurance announced Monday the launch of a new online tool designed to help Alaskans better understand healthcare costs across the state.
Called the Health Payment Utilization Database (HPUD) Snapshot, the new dashboard allows users to search and compare the average costs of the top 240 medical procedures in Alaska. The data includes the average paid amount per claim and aims to increase healthcare pricing transparency.
The database draws on claims data from commercial health plans offered by Premera Blue Cross and Moda Health, along with Medicare and Alaska Medicaid. Data from AlaskaCare is expected to be added in an update later this year.
The HPUD was developed as a joint effort by the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health, and the Department of Administration after a directive from the FY 2023 state budget to procure the tool.
“This is another tool for Alaskans to understand the cost drivers that impact our health care,” said Lori Wing-Heier, Director of the Division of Insurance. “It will help policymakers better understand actual reimbursements and costs in Alaska.”
The dashboard is now available to the public through the Department of Insurance website.
