Researchers reviewed how Aetna members used price transparency tools to see what care options were available to them and found that, overall, use remained low during the course of the study. Those who did use the online tool were much more likely to be younger, healthier and have higher annual deductibles than those who didn’t use the search tool.
“Ultimately, proponents of price transparency hope that healthcare price information will become an integral part of patient decision making, so that patients will be able to choose high quality and high-value care — which in turn will influence overall spending and utilization in a meaningful way,” the authors concluded.
They wrote that most importantly, providers should consider taking creative approaches to engaging patients in the search for better-priced and higher-value care.
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