Employers Are Sharing Health Price Data, but Real Change Is Slow

Employer-sponsored health plans and health insurers are expected to be more compliant with rules requiring them to make their price data public than hospitals were in 2021.

But employers will now have to step up and start using the information to ensure their employees are getting the best deals when they seek medical care.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, enacted in 2020, raises the bar for employer-sponsored health plans, which as fiduciaries are required to pay fair prices for services provided. The law—along with the transparency in coverage rule issued in November 2020—requires health plans to make their negotiated ...