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Article: INCREASING TRANSPARENCY IN PRICING OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND PHARMACEUTICALS
- Article from:
- US Fed News Service, Including US State News
- Article date:
- June 5, 2008
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The Congressional Budget Office issued the following document:
The rising cost of health care represents the nation's single most important long-term fiscal challenge. This brief explores whether increased transparency about prices for specific health care services and pharmaceuticals would help to temper the rapid growth in costs. The answer is unclear because evidence can be marshaled on both sides of the issue.
Some observers believe that if individuals know the prices of health care services, they are more likely to seek out less expensive providers or treatments and to question how effective the care they are purchasing is likely to be.
But several factors may limit the effectiveness ...