San Francisco supervisors hear experts, unions and hospitals on price transparency and propose local action

San Francisco — On Nov. 6, 2013, the Budget and Finance Committee held a lengthy hearing on hospital pricing and health‑care transparency, hearing testimony from labor‑management officials, academics, hospital officials and insurers before advancing a city resolution backing improved price and quality disclosure.

Supervisor Mark Farrell opened the session by citing recently released Medicare provider charge data that showed “drastic” variation in what hospitals charge for common inpatient services and called for greater transparency to protect consumers and city workers. He presented a resolution that would direct city staff to pursue contract and statutory changes and to explore an all‑payer claims database.

The hearing gathered a spectrum of views. Lisa Gopi, deputy director of the city’s Health Service System speaking for a joint labor‑management committee, said members and purchasers lack the price and quality data needed to make informed decisions and asked the Board to support a resolution (File No. 130629) and to pursue an all‑payer database. “You…