Push to Make Healthcare Costs More Transparent Could Only Boost Urgent Care Further

The Department of Health and Human Services seems to be following President Trump’s call to make healthcare pricing more transparent, according to an article recently published in the Wall Street Journal—a move which, if it comes to fruition, would likely boost urgent care’s reputation as a lower cost alternative than the emergency room. Most recently, the DOH issued a call for public comment on whether patients should know the “true” cost of care before they receive treatment; that means hospitals and providers would have to give patients their cost of care. Insurers would also be forced to reveal the rates they negotiate for services. All in all, full disclosure of costs would allow for more informed decision-making by those patients, and clarify the savings that could be realized with greater use of urgent care for nonemergent health concerns.