Price Transparency for Primary Care Office Visits and Routine Tests: Results From a 2016 Audit Study

Abstract

Introduction: Price transparency is a central component of the shift from volume to value in healthcare delivery. Price transparency in primary care, the most common point of contact with the healthcare system for patients in the U.S., has not been widely studied. Methods: Using an audit study across 10 states in 2016, we examined the characteristics of primary care practices that were able to provide price information for office visits and routine tests. Results: Most primary care practices were able to disclose some price information for office visits and routine tests. Results indicate that larger, integrated primary care practices in urban areas and in areas with a higher percentage of minority residents were less likely to provide prices than smaller, standalone practices. Conclusion: These findings suggest that future efforts to increase price transparency in primary care should be tailored to practice characteristics, including practice location and whether the practice is embedded in an integrated health system.