CMS Research Illustrates Four Healthcare Transparency Paradoxes

In August 2006, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt announced a Value-driven Health Care Initiative based on “four cornerstones,” two of which involved transparency: reporting of price information and reporting of quality information. A decade later, in the eighth year of an administration of the opposite political party, HHS remains committed to this strategy, upping the ante with the rollout of five-star rating systems for each of the provider types that participate in the Medicare program. Soon another administration, also on record favoring consumer-directed health care, will take office.