The tough terrain of transparent pricing.

The article discusses the transparent pricing initiatives launched by healthcare companies in the U.S. Topics covered include the flat prices given by Advocate Health Care in Downers Grove, Illinois on certain services for self-pay patients, Advocate's fixed-price policy on diagnostic-imaging procedures, and the new online price estimator of healthcare provider ProMedica in Toledo, Ohio. It also discusses ProMedica's efforts in developing its price transparency and strategic pricing initiative.