It appears that the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the health plan lobby, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) are not fans of the Trump administration's executive order to require hospitals to " publish prices that reflect what people pay for services." According to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, the rule would "require hospitals to disclose the prices that patients and insurers actually pay in "an easy-to-read, patient-friendly format" and "require health care providers and insurers to provide patients with information about the out-of-pocket costs they'll face before they receive health care services."
AHA responded: (Consumers) "don’t look at price alone when it comes to seeking the highest quality care for themselves or loved ones. Moreover, consumers say they are most interested in what their out-of-pocket costs for care will be, what is covered by their health plan, which providers are in their networks and what their health plan’s cost-sharing obligations are in terms of their deductible and coinsurance.
Meanwhile, economists and analysts have suggested that publicly posting certain information, such as privately negotiated rates, could, in fact, undermine the competitive forces of private market dynamics with unintended consequences such as insurers coordinating to disadvantage providers and consumers."
AHIP CEO Matt Eyles said the same thing, claiming that "Publicly disclosing competitively negotiated, proprietary rates will reduce competition and push prices higher — not lower — for consumers, patients, and taxpayers," said in a statement. He says it will perpetuate "the old days of the American health care system paying for volume over value. We know that is a formula for higher costs and worse care for everyone."
Wow, it sounds like the Trump proposal would violate the economics equivalent of the third law of thermodynamics. So it must apply across the board, to any industry and therefore AHIP and AHA would take a principled stand against any proposal to reveal negotiated prices. Or maybe not:
AHIP and USA Today Agree: It’s Time for Open and Honest Drug Pricing
When it comes to out-of-control drug prices, the USA Today Editorial Board gets it right. (“How the Trump prescription for drug prices transparency could make health care well again,” May 16). Disclosing prescription drug prices in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising is an effective way to help patients make informed decisions about their health.
Lifesaving drugs and treatments are placed out of reach for too many Americans because of the outrageously high list prices set exclusively by Big Pharma. The Trump administration’s proposal will help consumers learn more about what their prescription costs before they access it, and will empower them to discuss cheaper alternatives with their doctor, including generics.
Americans deserve to know how high prices are fueling Big Pharma’s marketing machines and bottom lines at our expense. Direct-to-consumer advertising price disclosure is an important first step in helping us get there.
Matt Eyles
President and CEO
America’s Health Insurance Plans
Well, okay. But maybe the AHA has a more principled position:
Committee approves AHA-supported drug price transparency bill
The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday approved the Prescription Drug Sunshine, Transparency, Accountability and Reporting Act (H.R. 2113), AHA-supported legislation that would increase transparency with regard to prescription drug pricing.
"As it considers this legislation, we want to commend the Committee for including several policies that will better hold drug manufacturers accountable," AHA said in a letter of support for the bill.
Specifically, AHA applauded the inclusion of the Reporting Accurate Drug Prices Act, which would require all manufacturers to submit pricing data to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Sp do AHA and AHIP agree with PhRma that publishing sticker prices "would potentially confuse patients who might be misled into believing the list price is the price they would pay and would potentially deter them from seeking needed medical care?"
Or more to the point: hey support it when it benefits them and oppose transparency when it hurts their industries.
The line between self-interest and hypocrisy in politics is thin. For AHIP and AHA it is non-existent.
AHA responded: (Consumers) "don’t look at price alone when it comes to seeking the highest quality care for themselves or loved ones. Moreover, consumers say they are most interested in what their out-of-pocket costs for care will be, what is covered by their health plan, which providers are in their networks and what their health plan’s cost-sharing obligations are in terms of their deductible and coinsurance.
Meanwhile, economists and analysts have suggested that publicly posting certain information, such as privately negotiated rates, could, in fact, undermine the competitive forces of private market dynamics with unintended consequences such as insurers coordinating to disadvantage providers and consumers."
AHIP CEO Matt Eyles said the same thing, claiming that "Publicly disclosing competitively negotiated, proprietary rates will reduce competition and push prices higher — not lower — for consumers, patients, and taxpayers," said in a statement. He says it will perpetuate "the old days of the American health care system paying for volume over value. We know that is a formula for higher costs and worse care for everyone."
Wow, it sounds like the Trump proposal would violate the economics equivalent of the third law of thermodynamics. So it must apply across the board, to any industry and therefore AHIP and AHA would take a principled stand against any proposal to reveal negotiated prices. Or maybe not:
AHIP and USA Today Agree: It’s Time for Open and Honest Drug Pricing
When it comes to out-of-control drug prices, the USA Today Editorial Board gets it right. (“How the Trump prescription for drug prices transparency could make health care well again,” May 16). Disclosing prescription drug prices in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising is an effective way to help patients make informed decisions about their health.
Lifesaving drugs and treatments are placed out of reach for too many Americans because of the outrageously high list prices set exclusively by Big Pharma. The Trump administration’s proposal will help consumers learn more about what their prescription costs before they access it, and will empower them to discuss cheaper alternatives with their doctor, including generics.
Americans deserve to know how high prices are fueling Big Pharma’s marketing machines and bottom lines at our expense. Direct-to-consumer advertising price disclosure is an important first step in helping us get there.
Matt Eyles
President and CEO
America’s Health Insurance Plans
Well, okay. But maybe the AHA has a more principled position:
Committee approves AHA-supported drug price transparency bill
The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday approved the Prescription Drug Sunshine, Transparency, Accountability and Reporting Act (H.R. 2113), AHA-supported legislation that would increase transparency with regard to prescription drug pricing.
"As it considers this legislation, we want to commend the Committee for including several policies that will better hold drug manufacturers accountable," AHA said in a letter of support for the bill.
Specifically, AHA applauded the inclusion of the Reporting Accurate Drug Prices Act, which would require all manufacturers to submit pricing data to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Sp do AHA and AHIP agree with PhRma that publishing sticker prices "would potentially confuse patients who might be misled into believing the list price is the price they would pay and would potentially deter them from seeking needed medical care?"
Or more to the point: hey support it when it benefits them and oppose transparency when it hurts their industries.
The line between self-interest and hypocrisy in politics is thin. For AHIP and AHA it is non-existent.
