Doctor Fees Major Factor in Health Costs, Study Says

New York Times ^ | September 7, 2011 | ROBERT PEAR

[reaganaut1]

Doctors are paid higher fees in the United States than in several other countries, and this is a major factor in the nation’s higher overall cost of health care, says a new study by two Columbia University professors, one of whom is now a top health official in the Obama administration.

“American primary care and orthopedic physicians are paid more for each service than are their counterparts in Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom,” said the study, by Sherry A. Glied, an assistant secretary of health and human services, and Miriam J. Laugesen, an assistant professor of health policy at Columbia.

The study, being published Thursday in the journal Health Affairs, found that the incomes of primary care doctors and orthopedic surgeons were substantially higher in the United States than in other countries. Moreover, it said, the difference results mainly from higher fees, not from higher costs of the doctors’ medical practice, a larger number or volume of services or higher medical school tuition.

Such higher fees are driving the higher spending on doctors’ services, the study concluded.

Ms. Glied, an economist, was a Columbia professor before President Obama named her assistant health secretary for planning and evaluation in June 2010. She said the paper, based on academic research, did not reflect the official views of the administration or the White House.

But the journal said the findings suggested that, as policymakers struggle to find ways to restrain health spending, they might consider doctors’ fees. Doctors have generally been excluded from recent cost-cutting proposals because under existing law, Medicare, the federal insurance program for older people, will reduce their fees by 29.5 percent on Jan. 1. In addition, many states have frozen or reduced fees paid to doctors treating poor people under Medicaid.

[RJS1950]

You will note that it addressed doctors who voted for and who support his healthcare fiasco as morons. My doctor is the one assigned to me as my military healthcare provider and is great. What I said is a note of caution for all of those other doctors out there who do not support obama that they will be swept into this socialist scheme just as the moron doctors will.

[Logic n' Reason]

Malpractice companies would have to change with competition. Unprovable, but a hopeful dream.
To say that the whole medical industry is corrupt is painting with too wide of a brush. Doctors do have compassion and actually do work for some that can not afford Dr. fees. To use the term "doctors" without any idea of how many, what kind, or where they may be defeats the purpose of the argument. It trys to substitute "feelings" for facts.
Insurance companies do have to be competitive and even Farmers Group has a class action law suit for overcharges Uh...of course they do; they are "for profit" business entities. What these comments have to do with my original questions is beyond me....but thanks for the response anyway.

[dfwgator]

They’ll just import the doctors from India.

[mountainlion]

You seem to be substituting feelings for facts also. You seem feel the whold medical system is corrupt. I know my doctor forgives many bills that poor people can not pay. you accused me of unprovable but hopeful dream... without any idea of how many and what kind. You have done the same with your statement of corruption. Farmers group was sued in a class action law suit so with changes in malpractice insurance they could also be sued over overcharging.