The most recent gimmick to medical cost reduction and giving the shaft to physicians is the latest development of the healthcare system- ACOs.
ACOs are accountable care organizations which will determine how patients are treated. Instead of fee for service rendered by healthcare providers, these mammoth systems will pay physicians a predetermined set amount for each patient under their care. (sounds like National Health from Great Britain, doesn’t it?)
If they minimize the cost of healthcare for a patient, the doctor gets rewarded. However, (and this is the kicker) if they exceed the budget for a particular patient, the physicians will have to pay for those excess costs themselves, actually paying to provide the necessary care for their individual patients. What a great gimmick! Make the doctors pay for the rising healthcare costs instead of the government!
Do you want your doctor to determine your healthcare and which diagnostic tests that you can have based on a reimbursement schedule?
