Opinion: Can transparency tools further the ACA's goals of reducing costs?

Shortly after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, President Obama touted its ability to "cut costs and make coverage more affordable for families and small businesses." In its efforts to reduce costs and the number of uninsured U.S. residents, the law also has spurred an increase in demand for health care price and quality information, as consumers shoulder a larger share of health care costs, particularly through the rise in popularity of high-deductible health plans. For example, the latest data from America's Health Insurance Plans show nearly 17.4 million people were enrolled in a health savings account/high-deductible health plan in January 2014, up from 11.4 million in January 2011.