Policymakers have sought to reduce high prices and price variations by increasing price transparency. We sought to measure retail drug price variations and their relation to transparency. Our survey of six national pharmacies reveals large price variations both among and within pharmacies for...

The author examines the potential role for the public and, more specifically, for plan participants, in making managed care organizations (MCOs) respond to their wishes by means other than market exit. Market exit, or simply choosing an alternative means of procuring healthcare, is not an option...

If we adopt a full consumer model for our healthcare system, we will incorporate not only the positive elements of consumerism but some negative ones as well. These negative aspects are often overlooked. This essay examines the negative side. In brief, health care consumers are only entitled to...