Comments on: The politicization of the NEJM http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/02/politicization-of-nejm.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Health Punkhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/02/politicization-of-nejm.html#comment-83491 Health Punk Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:02:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/02/the-politicization-of-the-nejm.html#comment-83491 It's accurate, for sure.<br/><br/>It's also true in it's assessment that we get less value for our dollar than in other countries.<br/><br/>The fact is that healthcare does not function in a true free-market environment. It is, perhaps, one of the most dysfunctional markets imaginable.<br/><br/>The over-abundance of ASC's, imaging centers, and so on makes the work of the primary care physician that much harder. We've got the task of ensuring that people don't get things that they don't need, that don't add value, and which potentially cause harm. (By the way, not all surgeons are doing well on ASC's). It just reinforces the point that procedurists have access to a greater revenue stream for the work they do (E & M codes are worth squat).<br/><br/>My question: Are there really people out there that think our health system is working just fine? It’s accurate, for sure.

It’s also true in it’s assessment that we get less value for our dollar than in other countries.

The fact is that healthcare does not function in a true free-market environment. It is, perhaps, one of the most dysfunctional markets imaginable.

The over-abundance of ASC’s, imaging centers, and so on makes the work of the primary care physician that much harder. We’ve got the task of ensuring that people don’t get things that they don’t need, that don’t add value, and which potentially cause harm. (By the way, not all surgeons are doing well on ASC’s). It just reinforces the point that procedurists have access to a greater revenue stream for the work they do (E & M codes are worth squat).

My question: Are there really people out there that think our health system is working just fine?

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/02/politicization-of-nejm.html#comment-83487 Anonymous Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:56:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/02/the-politicization-of-the-nejm.html#comment-83487 Oh! The outrage! Instead of the government getting to keep the money from surgery centers... the surgeon gets to keep the profits because he is the entrepreneur!!! Oh What world do we live in! My imagine my shock when I found out that Walgreens gets to the keep the profit off the drugs it sells! And Wal MArt gets to keep the profit of its groceries and toys! The world has gone mad! I thought these were distribution centers that the government had set up! The outrage! Oh! The outrage! Instead of the government getting to keep the money from surgery centers… the surgeon gets to keep the profits because he is the entrepreneur!!! Oh What world do we live in! My imagine my shock when I found out that Walgreens gets to the keep the profit off the drugs it sells! And Wal MArt gets to keep the profit of its groceries and toys! The world has gone mad! I thought these were distribution centers that the government had set up! The outrage!

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/02/politicization-of-nejm.html#comment-83486 Anonymous Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:34:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/02/the-politicization-of-the-nejm.html#comment-83486 Let's not over react. First of all, there are absolutely no inaccuracies in the entire piece. Second of all, it is an opinion piece, and one piece of opinion does not suggest that the entire journal is moving to the left.<br/><br/>This knee jerk response, that any adovocacy for single payer is a "move to the left", is exactly what hinders debate and keeps us, as physicians, afraid of change. But the truth remains: as it stands now, things really suck and primary care is dying. <br/><br/>Underpaid in New York Let’s not over react. First of all, there are absolutely no inaccuracies in the entire piece. Second of all, it is an opinion piece, and one piece of opinion does not suggest that the entire journal is moving to the left.

This knee jerk response, that any adovocacy for single payer is a “move to the left”, is exactly what hinders debate and keeps us, as physicians, afraid of change. But the truth remains: as it stands now, things really suck and primary care is dying.

Underpaid in New York

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