Business health group calls for transparency

The Colorado Business Group on Health, a statewide, employer-focused coalition that works on improving the value and quality of health care, has signed on to the Department of Health and Human Services' initiative calling for called "value-driven" health care. In other words, consumers should know up front how much they're paying, what they're paying for and the quality of the service.

"We think it's a good initial step for large purchasers to work collectively to change the direction in the industry," said Donna Marshall, executive director of the Colorado Business Group on Health. "I don't think any employers are satisfied with the trend in costs and we as purchasers need to do a better job in telling the marketplace what it is we want to buy. The marketplace will respond."

For more information on the initiative that advocates transparency of cost and quality, see www.hhs.gov/transparency.