State Activity and Price Transparency Implementation

Activity in the healthcare sector is shifting more towards the state level where there is greater discretion in decision-making. States are expected to focus on integrating Medicaid waivers for behavioral and physical health more aggressively. Despite the emphasis on price transparency at the federal level, the actual impact on the market will take several years to materialize since compliance and attention are lacking. To ensure effective implementation, it is crucial to create mechanisms where transparency leads to informed decisions. The speaker suggests that imposing penalties for non-compliance would be more effective than offering incentives. However, such punitive measures might face political challenges, indicating a timeline for significant changes in the healthcare system by approximately 2025 or 2026.