New Report Outlines Steps for Greater Transparency

In July 2017, The Network for Excellence in Health Innovation (NEHI) released a new report that outlines steps for greater transparency in health care. The report states that helping consumers make well-informed decisions can lead to higher quality of care, greater patient satisfaction and better use of the nation’s health care resources. NEHI found that most consumers make medical decisions without proper support, after interviewing health care industry experts, holding a discussion with thought leaders, and reviewing existing research. Choosing a doctor, hospital, health insurance plan, or a course of medical treatment can be overwhelming, and these information gaps in the system cost both consumers and the nation. Their research revealed: Consumers often don’t know that they may have multiple treatment options or that health care costs can vary widely for the same service. While there are tools to help consumers with the decision-making process, these tools are not consistently available or useful. If consumers make the wrong decision when selecting a health plan or provider, there could be expensive consequences. The NEHI report states that “providing high-quality information to consumers through well-designed tools, as well as other resources to help them interpret that information, can address these issues and empower consumers to make superior choices. Having adequate information can also help to protect consumers from financial surprises, s...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs