Washington takes on health care price transparency
After giving birth to their daughter in Hawaii, a Canadian couple’s health insurance claim was denied and they received a million dollar medical bill. While this story highlights an extreme case, health care is costly business for everyone in the system.
There are many potential solutions that will bring about more affordable health care, but underlying them all is the same idea―improving the system starts with better information.
There is a national movement for price transparency that aims to make health care more affordable and less opaque for consumers. States like Massachusetts and New Hampshire have attempted a hybrid regulatory and market-based approach to achieve this goal, and the evidence is showing their approach is working.
In Washington, a broad coalition of business leaders, health care providers, health plans and community groups are supporting a regulatory approach that will help market-based strategies reduce costs and improve quality through the implementation of a fully-functioning and sustainable All-Payer Claims Database. Learn more about why health care transparency is good for consumers, businesses, health care providers and our state’s economy. Visit the Coalition for Health Care Cost Transparency website to learn more.