States push for greater transparency

Kaiser Health News reports on two states that are trying to help consumers compare pricing information. New Hampshire has started publishing the prices of some dental procedures and some prescription drugs, both of which are easy to shop. California, meanwhile, is posting average prices of medical procedures for large physician groups. The efforts seem modest in scope, but are nevertheless encouraging of a larger trend.

Meanwhile, the article also referenced a study by the Health Care Cost Institute, which questioned the extent that healthcare consumerism is likely to affect healthcare spending. The study found that 43% of the money spent on healthcare services for commercially insured patients were considered shoppable, with only 7% being paid out-of-pocket for shoppable services. I suspect that the 7% figure will increase with time, making consumerism a more powerful force than that study acknowledges.