The release of government data showing wide variation in hospital pricing removes a layer of secrecy but probably won't make medical charges more uniform, experts said Wednesday.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published records that for the first time show prices at 3,337 hospitals for treating common ailments. The records also show the amount that Medicare, the federal insurance program for the elderly and disabled, agreed to actually pay for beneficiaries undergoing treatment for those diagnoses.

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