Amid an August dominated by debate over the "public option," WellNet, a health technology company, maintains that the conversation is overlooking a critical variable: cost control.

The key to clamping down on health care costs will be increased transparency and information, said WellNet President Keith Lemer. Lemer's company creates software tools that help employers manage and understand their health care costs and advocates for two measures that would increase transparency and competition: leveling the playing field and unbundling benefits.

Leveling the playing field would mean eliminating "most favored nations" (MFN) clauses. Under MFNs, a health care provider cannot offer a lower rate than it does to the dominant insurer. To "unbundle benefits," employers would purchase medical and pharmaceutical coverage separately, resulting in greater clarity of the costs between the two. Presently, employers often purchase medical and pharmacy coverage together, hence the reason most people use the same insurance card at the doctor's office and at the pharmacy.

Before passing any major legislation, Lemer hopes lawmakers will take a step back to make sure they are addressing the root of problems with health care costs, not just expanding access.