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National Health Policy Forum

Background Paper

Date: MARCH 28, 2007
Title:
Health Care Price Transparency and
Price Competition
PDF Doc.
Author: Mark Merlis, Consultant
Summary: Growing numbers of consumers are in health plans that give them incentives to be more cost-conscious. Yet complex pricing systems and limited information may make it hard to choose among providers and treatment options. This report examines steps that insurers and others have taken to make better price information available, possible government measures to further promote price transparency or to simplify price comparisons, and the likely effects on consumer behavior and provider competition.
Related
Materials:
See also "Meeting Employees' Information Needs in an Evolving Health Care Marketplace" (Background Paper, December 2001) and "The Fundamentals of Health Savings Accounts and High-Deductible Health Plans" (Background Paper, April 23, 2007).