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Provider responses to online price transparency

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  • Whaley, Christopher M.

Abstract

Price transparency initiatives have recently emerged as a solution to the lack of health care price information available to consumers. This paper uses the staggered and nationwide diffusion of a leading internet-based price transparency platform to estimate the effects of price transparency on provider prices. I find a 1–4% reduction in provider prices for homogenous services, laboratory tests, but find no price response for differentiated services, office visits. Price responses are driven by active consumer use of price information. This paper demonstrates how reducing consumer search costs can spur limited firm price competition in health care markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Whaley, Christopher M., 2019. "Provider responses to online price transparency," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 241-259.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:66:y:2019:i:c:p:241-259
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2019.06.001
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zhang, Angela & Prang, Khic-Houy & Devlin, Nancy & Scott, Anthony & Kelaher, Margaret, 2020. "The impact of price transparency on consumers and providers: A scoping review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(8), pages 819-825.
    3. Dariusz Dudek & Marcin Lipowski & Ilona Bondos, 2021. "Changing Energy Supplier on the Market with a Strong Position of Incumbent Suppliers—Polish Example," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-16, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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