Why Hospital Price Transparency Rules Are Failing

Episode 17 of Services Economy with Fexingo: Healthcare, Finance, and the Modern Service Sector. Lucas and Luna break down why the federal hospital price transparency rule, in effect since January 2021, has largely failed to deliver lower prices. They examine a 2024 study from the Rand Corporation finding that only 14% of hospitals are fully compliant, and dig into the economics of why hospitals resist — from negotiated rate opacity to the strategic value of price ambiguity. They also explore how the Biden administration's 2025 enforcement ramp-up changed the landscape, with penalties increasing from $300 to up to $5,500 per day per violation. The episode closes with a look at what a second Trump term could mean for price transparency rules. A concrete look at regulation, incentives, and the limits of market-based solutions in healthcare. #HospitalPriceTransparency #HealthcareCosts #RegulationEconomics #RandCorporation #BidenAdministration #TrumpAdministration #CMS #Enforcement #MarketDesign #HealthPolicy #PriceGouging #PatientChoice #Hospitals #InsuranceNegotiation #TransparencyFailures #ServicesEconomy #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo