Ortho Companies May Be Saying Bye-Bye to Sky-High Profits

The New York Times reports that a Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analysis predicts that the pricing power that makers of artificial hips and knees enjoy could diminish greatly soon. The Justice Department's antitrust investigation may force prices to be made public. Currently, hospitals have no idea what others are paying for the devices, which has led to some unusual pricing practices. Greater transparency would be good for consumers, if not for the shareholders of the manufacturers.