A clock running backwards is right four times a day, and occasionally the conman does something good. One of them was to require hospitals to publish their prices for a long list of medical procedures.

In addition to giving patients the opportunity to say, "I will go elsewhere" — those who are well enough to do so — it is also likely to result in pressure to lower the prices. That will help all patients without insurance. However, it is likely to pressure on insurance companies to pay hospitals more, and thus charge more. Overall it will be an improvement, but the US medical system will still be lousy overall.

The US needs a national medical system, also known as Medicare for All.