The Transparency Landscape: Federal Law, State Actions and what the Data Show
About
Federal rules now require hospitals and insurers to publish the prices they negotiate and states have added their own requirements. This discussion looks at what those rules were meant to do, what the published data actually show, and whether they are helping patients, employers and policy makers understand and lower the cost of care.
Featured Speakers
David Muhlestein, PhD, JD, MHA, MSPH
Founder and CEO, Simple Healthcare
David Muhlestein founded Simple Healthcare in 2023 to help make healthcare data more understandable and actionable. A nationally recognized healthcare researcher and strategist, his expertise spans healthcare policy, market analysis, business strategy, and healthcare transformation.
Prior to founding Simple Healthcare, he held leadership roles at Leavitt Partners and Health Management Associates, where he served as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Research Officer, and Chief Research & Innovation Officer. He also founded Torch Insight, a healthcare analytics platform acquired by Milliman MedInsight in 2020.
Muhlestein has published extensively on healthcare policy, price transparency, accountable care organizations, and value-based care. He serves as a Visiting Policy Fellow at the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy and holds graduate degrees in health policy, healthcare administration, public health, and law from The Ohio State University, along with a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Brigham Young University.
Brian O'Rourke, PhD, MA
Senior Policy Analyst, Health Policy Institute of Ohio
Brian O'Rourke is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO), where his work focuses on healthcare spending, insurance, and behavioral health policy.
Before joining HPIO full time, O'Rourke served as a research associate at The Ohio State University College of Public Health, conducting research on medical education, health reform, and innovative care delivery models. He also worked with HPIO as a data analysis consultant.
He earned a PhD in Health Services Management and Policy from The Ohio State University, as well as a Master of Arts in Bioethics and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Case Western Reserve University.
Vinay Rathi, MD
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Dr. Vinay Rathi is a fellowship-trained otolaryngologist specializing in rhinology and the treatment of conditions affecting the nose and sinuses. In his clinical practice, he emphasizes patient-centered care and informed decision-making, utilizing both medical and minimally invasive surgical approaches.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Rathi is a health policy researcher whose scholarship focuses on promoting the safe and effective use of medical devices. His research has been published in leading journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and Nature Biotechnology, and has been featured in national media outlets.
Panel Moderator
Tory Hogan, PhD
The Ohio State University College of Public Health
Dr. Tory Hogan is a social scientist whose research examines how healthcare organizations adapt to changing policy, market, and operational environments. Her work focuses on the design and delivery of healthcare services, organizational strategy, and implementation of innovations that improve healthcare outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Drawing on prior experience in the financial services industry, Dr. Hogan studies the factors that influence organizational decision-making and the adoption of new healthcare delivery models. Her interdisciplinary research spans health policy, management, public health, and health services research, with a focus on hospitals, primary care practices, nursing homes, federally qualified health centers, and community mental health organizations.
Parking
Free parking will be available in the Fawcett Center parking lot.