Interesting article posted by NPR/KFF Health News this week, titled “Hospitals are posting prices for patients. It's mostly industry using the data.”
The article focuses on the Trump Administration’s desire for providers and insurers to post their prices to the public so healthcare consumers can shop and compare, and avoid unexpected charges that surprise them after their episode of care.
“But amid low compliance and other struggles implementing the policy since it took effect in 2021, the available price data is sparse and often confusing. And instead of patients shopping for medical services, it's mostly health systems and insurers using the little data there is, turning it into fodder for negotiations that determine what medical professionals and facilities get paid for what services,” the article states.
The article takes a deep dive into this issue, which is a great idea in concept for consumers but seems to be less than perfect for them in real-world execution. Read the full article here.
