Piercing the Healthcare Veil: An Argument for Healthcare Pricing Transparency

This Comment analyzes the current problem of opaqueness regarding patient access to pricing of shoppable services within the healthcare industry, the trend of increasing out-of-pocket costs paid by patients for shoppable services, and how consolidation among health care providers contributes to increased costs to patients. Analysis of the price transparency in the cosmetic procedure industry and successful state healthcare price transparency initiatives is conducted to demonstrate that transparency in pricing can contribute to increased competition, consumer knowledge and lower costs of shoppable services. The Paper concludes with suggestions for both federal and state-level policymakers on the proper course of action for putting patients’ interests first by putting insurance companies and healthcare conglomerates second