Flushed by the yet-to-be-realized victory over the insurance companies promised by the healthcare reform bills that are making their way through the Congress (and which I suspect will be illusory), the New York Times has set its sights on another major healthcare cost component, physicians’ fees:
Doctors largely decide what medical or surgical treatments are needed, whether it will be delivered in a hospital, what tests will be performed, and what drugs will be prescribed or medical devices implanted.
There is disturbing evidence that many do a lot more than is medically useful — and often reap financial benefits from over-treating their patients. No doubt a vast majority of doctors strive to do the best for their patients. But many are influenced by fee-for-service financial incentives and some are unabashed profiteers.
I don’t believe that regulation of care or direct regulation of doctors’ fees and incomes will be good for patients and it certainly won’t be good for physicians. It’s not my preferred outcome.
But prepare for the next healthcare reform battle.
