Lack of price transparency for medical devices hurts hospitals

A new Government Accountability Office report concluded that a lack of price transparency makes it difficult for hospitals to obtain the best prices on medical devices. The report, which examined Medicare claims data between 2004 and 2009, found that a substantial variation existed in the prices hospitals pay for medical devices. In some instances, the variation was thousands of dollars. Doctors' differing preferences for specific medical devices and confidentiality clauses barring hospitals from sharing price information may contribute to the disparities, according to the report. Report