50-4-312. Consumer report cards. (1) The Montana health care advisory council shall appoint a task force of consumers, employers, health insurers, hospitals, health care providers, and legislators to design a consumer report card that will enhance consumer responsibility in the use of health care services.
     (2) The Montana health care advisory council shall, by October 1, 1996, submit the task force's proposal to the legislature containing the information needed to prepare the consumer report card. The information must include:
     (a) uniform data, including charges, that will enable consumers to evaluate the cost of medical procedures;
     (b) data about insurance plans, such as benefit and cost provisions;
     (c) additional information that may assist consumers in making informed choices about their medical care; and
     (d) any further applicable information generated as a result of efforts undertaken pursuant to 50-4-502.
     (3) The Montana health care advisory council shall also develop standards for uniform data to be provided by health insurers, hospitals, and health care providers and shall take into account the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the standards.
     (4) To the extent possible, data collected for the consumer report card must be provided by data sources that currently exist.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 349, L. 1995; amd. sec. 3, Ch. 349, L. 1995.