WASHINGTON – Looking to control health care costs? Then take another look at the Internet. According to a Watson Wyatt and National Business Group on Health study, companies that are best at controlling the rising health care costs offer multifaceted Internet tools that help employees model health care options.

"The Web can be a great help in effectively delivering health care information to employees and is especially important for companies making significant plan design changes," said Watson Wyatt National Leader for Health and Welfare Administration Jeri Stepman. "Companies adopting a consumerism approach to health care are finding that employees need more than financial incentives to become better health care consumers-they need information as well. Tools that allow employees to consider many facets of their health care can make a significant difference in the health care options employees choose." According to the study more companies need to offer information on provider quality and pricing that employees need to make more cost-effective choices. Here is a look at the tools that can encourage appropriate health care decisions: