Does Price Transparency Improve Market Efficiency? Implications of Empirical Evidence in Other Markets for the Health Sector

Austin, D. Andrew ; Gravelle, Jane G.

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Medical economics;    Health policy;    Health care industry;    Hospital rates;   

RP-ID  :  RL34101
RP-ID  :  RL34101_2008Apr29

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This report reviews the empirical studies of the effect of changes in price transparency on prices and quality of goods in a variety of industries; addresses the extent to which this evidence might be applicable to the health care market and certain special characteristics of the health care market which may reduce the importance of prices as signals; examines how prices are actually set by hospitals and the evidence that exists on price dispersion both across hospitals and across patient categories; discusses some initiatives undertaken by governments, insurers, and interest groups to improve information about prices and to regulate price discrimination; and finally, suggests that while it is difficult to determine the consequences of greater consumer price transparency, it is reasonable to believe that greater transparency would improve outcomes.