Free Markets and Transparency

Both scenarios are possible and even probable. But in the end, shouldn't the risk and reward balance each other out? In a free-market society, where health care consumers can truly act as consumers, issues such as pricing and access should be driven toward the mean. That is, low-cost hospitals may raise their prices, and that will be offset (at least partially) by high-cost hospitals lowering theirs. In the same way, some hospitals that are less-accessible will be "worth the trip" for consumers; other hospitals will not. There will be winners and losers, but at some point, they'll balance each other out.

Health care can not governed solely by the law of supply and demand. Within reason, however, it SHOULD be governed in such a way that the value of quality, access and other factors is determined by the consumer - the ultimate recipient and the ultimate buyer. Armed with the right transparency information, the consumer can play this role.