Modern Healthcare October 18, 2018
The Trump administration perennially has threatened to pull “levers” that would push the healthcare industry to become more transparent and lower overall costs.
Why would an industry that so often references value need a shove? Because hospitals and drugmakers still shy away from revealing what patients will pay for their services and products despite the near-deafening chorus from consumers begging for financial relief.
It wasn’t completely surprising when HHS Secretary Alex Azar last week announced a proposed rule that would require drugmakers to disclose list prices in TV ads. Consumers would learn the cost wholesalers pay for most drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid, minus any discounts. And that cost is often drastically lower than what consumers pay.
Almost immediately,...