5 ms·
Doctors cost so much because there are artificial caps on supply in the US. So much for the hippocratic oath of "do no harm". Fewer doctors decreases access to
by 88913527 4y ago
Doctors cost so much because there are artificial caps on supply in the US. So much for the hippocratic oath of "do no harm". Fewer doctors decreases access to the medical system which undoubtedly causes harm.
- nradov 4y agoThe main cap on the supply of doctors is imposed by limited Medicare funding for residency programs. Members of Congress who control that funding aren't subject to the Hippocratic Oath. https://savegme.org/ https://savegme.org/
- s1artibartfast 4y agoI never understood why residency programs need to be funded to begin with. I dont think this is how it works elsewhere and I struggle to believe that a hospital bill enough to cover employment and training of a resident.
- nradov 4y agoIt's not clear whether graduate medical education programs operate at a profit or loss. The accounting is complex, and the results depend on how revenues and expenses are allocated internally. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/finance/do-teaching-hospitals-profit-from-graduate-medical-education https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/finance/do-teaching-hospita...
- s1artibartfast 4y agoIt's not clear because medical finance and insurance is so Twisted that even the hospitals operating them don't understand it. I still find a dubious that residents can't build enough hours at a high enough rate to cover their cost of employment.
- wl 4y agoNot all residency programs are funded by Medicare. And even among those that are funded by Medicare, many have additional slots that are unfunded but exist anyway because a resident provides cheap labor. If a physician decides to change specialties and do a second residency, these unfunded programs and slots are their only options because Medicare won't pay for second residencies.