Some healthcare CIOs are thinking ahead of the new government requirement that they post their chargemasters (price lists) online. Their hospitals and healthcare systems are also offering patient cost estimators that tell people how much common tests and procedures will cost them out of pocket.
The healthcare organizations that do this have found they are meeting pent-up demand from their patients, especially those on high-deductible plans. At the same time, they’re positioning themselves for the future as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ramps up its initiative to help consumers compare healthcare prices.