In an article for RealClearHealth, CMS Administrator Seema Verma, MPH, said the industry can expect more proposals meant to push consumerism in healthcare along the lines of recent policies on price transparency and easier data sharing.
Verma wrote that the kind of shopping Americans expect for other services can be brought to healthcare, citing studies which have showed knowing prices ahead of time helps consumers lower their costs for care. She also argued that “empowering consumers” is essential at transitioning towards value-based care and controlling costs, rather than past priorities like more regulations, new payment models or expanding insurance coverage.
“Many payers and providers have already begun publishing transparent pricing and already provide patients with their health-care records in a useable format,” Verma wrote. “While these providers and payers should be applauded, there are still too many in health care who have not followed their examples. Those days are coming to an end. CMS intends to pull every lever in Medicare and Medicaid to transform our health-care system into one that puts patients first, empowering them with the information they need and deserve.”
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John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.