Healthcare Data Transparency Basics 2016

This brief explores the rationale for healthcare price transparency, the challenges it presents and potential policy approaches at the state level to increase transparency.

While there are many factors, such as socioeconomic and physical conditions, that contribute to healthcare spending and outcomes healthcare price and quality are key elements. However, accessing and evaluating price and quality data can be extremely difficult. As a result, there is significant momentum at the local, state and federal levels — in both public and private sectors — to implement programs and policies that increase healthcare data transparency.

In 2012, HPIO released its first Transparency Basics publication and, as interest in the topic continued to grow, the Institute hosted a forum on the subject in December 2015 and created this publication to update policymakers on the issue.