Shopping for price in medical care.
Insurers are well positioned to support their enrollees in shopping for care because of their ability to analyze complex data--reflecting both their negotiated discounts and the enrollee's benefit structure--should they decide to commit resources to this task. Government transparency initiatives can help those who are uninsured or want to use out-of-network providers with data on prices and all patients by gathering and disseminating data on quality. But clumsy requirements to disclose insurer-provider contracts could lead to higher prices. Greater price transparency might help curb rising costs, but many overstate the likely magnitude of its contribution.
Ginsburg
Paul B
PB
Center for Studying Health System Change, Washington, DC, USA. pginsburg@hschange.org
D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000191:economics*; D003363:Cost Control; D017046:Cost Savings; D003657:Decision Making; D004465:Economic Competition; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D017008:Negotiating; D011243:Preferred Provider Organizations / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive; D014481:United States