Without a lot more price transparency, it will be difficult to bring true cost-effectiveness to what is still a mostly a cost-plus American health system — by far the most expensive on Earth.

We have a long ways to go. Consider the new report from the Catalyst for Payment Reform and the Healthcare Incentives Improvement Institute.

The Los Angeles Times found that “45 states, including California, fared poorly at making price information easily accessible on public Web sites or through claims databases for care at hospitals, clinics and physician offices.

“The only state to receive an A grade was New Hampshire thanks to its new health-cost Web site. Only four other states received grades higher than an F.”