Patients are the last to know how much their insurance premiums, pharmaceuticals and hospital costs will be. What will it take for the healthcare system to become more transparent so patients have more information to make informed decisions and save money?

"It is just disturbing that the federal government, the largest payer of healthcare in the United States, does not have audit rights to go in, open up the ledgers of the pharmacy benefit managers and see where the money is going,“ says Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation.

Among the highlights in this episode: 

1:25- Why is transparency in our healthcare system important? 

2:42- The 3 entities that benefit from the lack of transparency

3:30- How patients are harmed by the lack of transparency

3:55- Can too much transparency undermine the competitive marketplace? 

6:01- Are federal or state governments doing anything to improve transparency?

7:51- What is the most effective legislation that will impact the most patients? 

8:40- 8:53-  "It is just disturbing that the federal government, the largest payer of healthcare in the United States, does not have audit rights to go in, open up the ledgers of the pharmacy benefit  managers and see where the money is going."

10:30- Is there hope to see changes?

10:13- Robert’s story of how surprise billing impacted his hospital visit

11:52- The goal is to strive for better information for patients so they can make more educated decisions

12:17- Conner and Robert's takeaways from this episode

Contact our hosts: 

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF, rpopovian@ghlf.org 

Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF, cmertens@ghlf.org 

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself to Healthcarematters@GHLF.org.

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

Patients are the last to know how much their insurance premiums, pharmaceuticals and hospital costs will be. What will it take for the healthcare system to become more transparent so patients have more information to make informed decisions and save money?
"It is just disturbing that the federal government, the largest payer of healthcare in the United States, does not have audit rights to go in, open up the ledgers of the pharmacy benefit managers and see where the money is going,&ldquo; says Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation.
Among the highlights in this episode:&nbsp;
1:25- Why is transparency in our healthcare system important?&nbsp;
2:42- The 3 entities that benefit from the lack of transparency
3:30- How patients are harmed by the lack of transparency
3:55- Can too much transparency undermine the competitive marketplace?&nbsp;
6:01- Are federal or state governments doing anything to improve transparency?
7:51- What is the most effective legislation that will impact the most patients?&nbsp;
8:40- 8:53-&nbsp; "It is just disturbing that the federal government, the largest payer of healthcare in the United States, does not have audit rights to go in, open up the ledgers of the pharmacy benefit&nbsp; managers and see where the money is going."
10:30- Is there hope to see changes?
10:13- Robert&rsquo;s story of how surprise billing impacted his hospital visit
11:52- The goal is to strive for better information for patients so they can make more educated decisions
12:17- Conner and Robert's takeaways from this episode
Contact our hosts:&nbsp;
Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF, <a href="mailto:rpopovian@ghlf.org&nbsp;">rpopovian@ghlf.org&nbsp;</a>
Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF, <a href="mailto:cmertens@ghlf.org">cmertens@ghlf.org</a>&nbsp;
We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself to <a href="mailto:Healthcarematters@GHLF.org">Healthcarematters@GHLF.org</a>.
Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on <a href="https://ghlf.org/healthcare-matters-podcast/">our website</a> or on your favorite podcast channel.

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 

Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 

The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 

www.ghlf.org

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 
Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 
The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 
www.ghlf.org

Healthcare Matters

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.

The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.
The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

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