"Pricing is increasingly becoming a top of mind issue for many hospital executives. Traditional pricing and contracting issues such as rate setting and compliance are still relevant, but are taking on a new, external perspective due to: Increased consumer price shopping for particular services, along with increased public scrutiny and calls for pricing transparency Volume and market share losses on high margin services to lower priced, niche competitors Increased payer consolidation/power in most major metropolitan areas Growing realization that hospitals' prices will have to grow at unprecedented levels to account for projected public payer underpayments In this presentation, we'll define new approaches and tools health systems are taking to implement more rational charge master prices in a more transparent, consumer-oriented environment. A second, companion audio webcast will be devoted to new approaches and tools health systems are taking to integrate pricing strategy with contracting strategy."