The reimbursement game says that procedures pay more than cognitive services. Guess what primary care physicians are gravitating to?
Patients will pay large fees out of pocket for cosmetic procedures or anti-aging vitamins. In our capitalistic society, it is clear what is valued.As long as primary care and “cognitive” specialists are reimbursed so poorly, these ads will have great appeal to many physicians. With the decline in medical students choosing primary care, pretty soon there will be no-one to market to.
Related posts:
- "Money is currently being made by procedures"
- Medical schools increasing enrollment
- Procedures becoming obsolete for internal medicine?
- Medical students avoiding primary care, is it more than money?
- Primary care is supported by international medical graduates
- Teaching medical procedures to interns and residents
- Males = specialists, females = primary care physicians
KevinMD.com on Facebook
{ 2 comments }
As a primary care doctor, I totally agree with this post. In the past a general doctor did office suturing, sigmoidoscopies, ekg, removed skin lesions, set bones and did basic lab tests…all of which was reimbursed for the time and expertise. Now those procedures are referred out and all we have are E&M codes that barely cover the cost of keeping the doors open. Isn’t my brain and training worth something?
Yes they are. It not the E & M code that is underpaying but the payment rate set by a third party, not the customer.
The difference between the cosmetic procedure and the E & M service is not as much what is being done but who is determining the value. The first is set in the free market between provider and customer. The latter is set by someone in no need of and not desiring the service. Can you imaging what value Medicare would set on dermabrasion?
Leave the plantation. Have the guts to set your fees or stop griping. Save medicine.
Comments on this entry are closed.