The study's results suggest thathealth care spending could be reduced by policies aimed at steeringprivately insured patients to lower-priced providers. (Photo:Shutterstock)

The bargaining power between insurers and hospitalsvaries dramatically across markets, across hospitals within marketsand even within hospitals. Consequently, so does the price forspecific health care services, according to the study, “The Price Ain't Right? Hospital Prices and HealthSpending on the Privately Insured,” by Yale Universityassociate professor Zack Cooper and colleagues, published in theQuarterly Journal of Economics.

The study, funded by The National Institute for Health CareManagement (NIHCM) Foundation, used claims data from three largeprivate insurers to provide a national picture of private-sectorspending and pricing variation.

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Katie Kuehner-Hebert

Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.

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