Health Care Data Transparency Basics 2016

Why is health care data transparency important? In 2013, per-capita health care spending in the U.S. was more than two times that of other economically-developed nations. Yet, compared to those nations, the U.S. had poorer health outcomes. In Ohio the situation is even more dire, as Ohioans are living less healthy lives despite spending more on health care than people in most other states (see figure 1).

Numerous studies have documented substantial geographic variations in health care spending across the United States, though there is little evidence suggesting that higher spending correlates with better health outcomes . . .