Few taking advantage of quality ratings, price comparisons
Despite the focus on patient engagement, price transparency and provider quality ratings, few individuals are using quality and pricing data on physicians and hospitals to make their healthcare choices, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll.
The poll surveyed 1,506 adults from April 9 to April 14 and found that about two-thirds of respondents reported difficulties finding information on hospitals' and physicians' exact prices for treatments or procedures. Only about 20 percent of respondents reported seeing price or quality data about doctors, hospitals or insurers.
Less than 9 percent of respondents said they used pricing data when making decisions on health plans and only 6 percent of respondents said they used quality data when making a decision about a doctor, hospital or insurer. Three percent of respondents reported using pricing information when making decisions about physicians.
Less than half (47 percent) of insured respondents under age 65 said they would be able to immediately pay an unanticipated medical bill of $500 in full, while others said they would have to borrow money, pay in installments, use a credit card or not pay at all.
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.