CBO Brief Explores Increasing Transparency To Curb Health Care Costs

"Increasing Transparency in the Pricing of Health Care Services and Pharmaceuticals," Congressional Budget Office: The CBO issue brief examines whether increased transparency of specific health care services and pharmaceuticals would help alleviate the rapid growth in costs. According to the brief, several factors among consumer and providers may limit the effectiveness of transparency's ability to cut costs. However, the brief notes that a greater awareness of health care costs and who bears those costs might generate increased demand for efficiency (CBO, "Increasing Transparency in the Pricing of Health Care Services and Pharmaceuticals," 6/5).