These files are more widely available than people think. For California for example, an agency called OSHPD makes available a set of documents called “charge masters” which have similar information.<p>This appears to be a little different bc it looks like they are listing an insurer-specific (e.g., an Aetna negotiated price). That would be very very unusual.<p>However the caveat on the linked page suggests that maybe that data isn’t what it appears to be.<p>Regardless, this kind of price transparency (even if the negotiated prices are available) is not obviously something which is going to bring prices down.
Interesting to see this data released, but I'm a little dubious.<p>According to the spreadsheet, Aetna is always paying 100% of list, and SEIU 1199 is always paying exactly 50%.<p>Most of the other private providers are listed with almost-flat discounts (85% for CHP, 71% for Empire, 60% for Healthfirst) with a handful of operations at other price points. Cigna has a little more variety but is mostly listed at 51%.<p>Only Emblem shows real variety across the board, with prices listed from 21.9% to 174%. It also has the lowest mean/median, at 45% and 34% respectively.<p>I know from personal experience that Aetna does have negotiated rates with NYP, and the flat discounts for all providers other than Emblem are also suspicious.
The file says "Confidential Proprietary Information" just above the price list. What does that mean in this context? They are making it publically available on their website, and one of the intents of the new bill was to make this information machine readable so developers could build upon it.
> List of Shoppable Services<p>> Major Hip And Knee Joint Replacement Or Reattachment Of Lower Extremity Without Mcc<p>These aren’t shoppable services...
These prices are fairy tales. It's a figure next to no one will actually ever pay.
Insurers pay less. If you ask for a discount you will pay less.