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I would argue that there will be no push toward accurate cost of care unless some messy steps towards transparency are taken first. Union pushes infection rate
by sailfast 9y ago
I would argue that there will be no push toward accurate cost of care unless some messy steps towards transparency are taken first. Union pushes infection rate data? Counter with your own data. Someone saying you’re too expensive? Counter with real dollar figures. More data!
Right now we kinda just have to take people’s word for it.
This transparency is the first step needed to move us toward smarter consumption of care. I don’t see any worthwhile brands getting tarnished by pricing data.
If consumers see a hospital as expensive, they might choose a cheaper hospital that provides the same standard of care without the frills. This is the kind of decision making that will bring down care costs over time and I’m stoked to see this move.
- aaavl2821 9y agoI totally agree, transparency has the power to really move the needle. The issue I see though is that all parties that have data are incentivized to keep it to themselves. Many "leading" hospitals actually don't have super great quality compared to other, less well known hospitals. So powerful, well known but low quality hospitals will lose if there's more transparency. They know this, and they're fighting it Large EMRs will also lose if there is more interoperability. Right now the fact that Epic and Cerner "own" a hospitals data gives them a lot of power. If anyone wants data, they have to go not just through the hospital, but through the EMR duopoly. Insurers don't want to publish their rates, because they'd face backlash from all around when people realize how much variability there is in how much they pay for the same procedure at different hospitals
- nradov 9y agoUnder the 21st Century Cures act, the federal government has now started prohibiting information blocking by EMRs. There are still some obstacles and friction but generally Epic, Cerner, and their competitors are opening up and offering published APIs using standard protocols.