Employer Group Touts ‘Playbook,’ Data to Broker Hospital Prices

An organization that works with employers that provide health coverage for 45 million Americans is starting a service Thursday to help determine fair hospital prices.

“For the first time, we finally have data that reinforces what we’ve long known—hospital prices are out of control—and we can’t rely on health systems and health plans to course correct,” Michael Thompson, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, said in a statement. Members of the National Alliance represent private and public sector, nonprofit, and union organizations that spend more than $300 billion on health-care benefits for employees and family ...