Transparency at health systems: Beckers Hospital Review

Summary: “Physician organizations, hospitals and health systems are under increasing pressure to deliver transparent, competitive pricing,” writes Kelly Gooch over at Becker’s Hospital Review. “This pressure is coming from multiple sources, according to Igor Belokrinitsky, principal with Strategy&, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ strategy consulting business, and with PwC US. Federal and state governments are demanding more transparency, while consumers are asking for more affordable healthcare options. Additionally, payers are working on improving member engagement to keep members out of hospitals. These efforts include getting more members to utilize retail health clinics and telemedicine options rather than hospital emergency departments. As a result, some business is being diverted away from hospitals and toward retail clinics, standalone surgical centers and urgent care facilities that advertise their prices and services, according to a new report from PwC’s Health Research Institute.” The report documents efforts at Adventist Health System (Altamonte Springs, Fla.), Integris Health (Oklahoma City), St. Clair Hospital (Pittsburgh) and Geisinger Health System (Danville, Pa.). Kelly Gooch, “How health systems across the US are improving price transparency,” Becker’s Hospital Review.