Highlights from this week's Healthcare Transparency News, Studies, and Articles:
Medicare Releases Part D Drug Prescribing Data for First Time
[By: Key Terry, Medscape]
“For the first time, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released Medicare drug prescribing data at the level of the individual prescriber.”
MD Insider is playing the physician data transparency war to win
[By: Stephanie Baum, MEDCITY News]
“A health IT company providing a search tool for company employees to identify suitable doctors for procedures and check ups based on experience, cost and outcomes has raised $9.5 million in a Series A round to support sales, marketing and data scientist hires.”
How a lack of healthcare price transparency compares to purchasing a bad car
[By: Ron Shinkman, FierceHealthFinance]
“Healthcare delivery in its current state may have something in common with purchasing a bad car, according to Jeffrey W. Jones, a managing director with Huron Healthcare, a Chicago-based consulting group. Jones delves into the phenomenon of “information asymmetry”–when not enough information exists for the buyers and sellers of goods and services to make economically rational decisions, in a new white paper.”
Paying People To Use Lower Cost Health Care Providers Saves Money
[By: Zina Moukheiber, Forbes]
“Vitals’ incentives program called SmartShopper saved its clients nearly $11 million last year, while paying health plan members a total $1.3 million in cash.”
New online tool helps avoid medical bill sticker shock (Idaho)
[By: ]
“A local insurance provider is now offering a cost advisor tool to help members estimate certain procedures, and let you shop around for for the best option.”
Ohio House bill could save billions in medical costs each year
[By: Jason Hart, OhioWatchDog.org]
“State Rep. Jim Butler, an Oakwood Republican, drafted House Bill 157 in an ambitious attempt to reform Medicaid and rein in health-care expenses across the board. … Proposed transparency measures would require hospitals to give patients cost estimates before providing non-emergency care, allow providers to advertise prices and require insurers to disclose out-of-pocket costs for the top 20 percent of covered services.”
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