Negotiation does not cause costs to rise, it’s because of lack of price transparency that let’s insiders play games.
Make all the prices public, and watch all the excuses disappear. No insurance company will be able to answer the government or employer when they find out another insurance company was able to obtain the same medicine or healthcare for a lower price.
I posted a link in a parallel thread to a surgical center that has all their prices on their website. Insurance companies refuse to work with them, supposedly for the reasons you state. So you are correct.
Make all the prices public, and watch all the excuses disappear. No insurance company will be able to answer the government or employer when they find out another insurance company was able to obtain the same medicine or healthcare for a lower price.