Section 3. The executive director may appoint and remove, subject to appropriation, such agents and subordinate officers and employees as the executive director may consider necessary and may establish such subdivisions within the center as the executive director considers appropriate to fulfill the following duties: (i) to collect, analyze and disseminate health care information to assist in the formulation of health care policy and in the provision and purchase of health care services including, but not limited to, collecting, storing and maintaining data in a payer and provider claims database; (ii) to provide an analysis of health care spending trends as compared to the health care cost growth benchmark established by the health policy commission under section 9 of chapter 6D; (iii) to collect, analyze and disseminate information regarding providers, provider organizations and payers to increase the transparency and improve the functioning of the health care system; (iv) to provide information to, and work with, the general court and other state agencies including, but not limited to, the executive office of health and human services, the department of public health, the department of mental health, the health care policy commission, the office of Medicaid and the division of insurance to collect and disseminate data concerning the cost, price and functioning of the health care system in the commonwealth and the health status of individuals; (v) to participate in and provide data and data analysis for annual hearings conducted by the health policy commission concerning health care provider and payer costs, prices and cost trends; and (vi) report to consumers comparative health care cost and quality information through the consumer health information website established under section 20. The center shall make available actual costs and prices of health care services, as supplied by each provider, to the general public in a conspicuous manner on the consumer health information website.