As consumers pay for a growing proportion of their health care, they have an increased need for information on cost and quality before receiving care, to help them plan and make informed decisions. Transparency tools from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and from private websites can provide such information to consumers and others.

Hear our podcast with Linda Kohn, a director in GAO’s Health Care team, who led a recent review of the availability of cost and quality information and CMS’s tools for consumers.