Availability of Medical Pricing Information is Increasing

The Miami Herald reports that the health care marketplace is dramatically changing as insurers and governments provide more and more information about the price of health care. This information was formerly a closely-guarded secret, comprehensible only to experts and insiders. However, as pricing becomes more publicized, consumers are becoming more savvy shoppers. Also, insurers are linking the price information to quality measures, and using that data to steer plan members towards less expensive, higher-quality doctors, hospitals, and clinical laboratories. These changes are shaking up the health care system, hopefully for the better.