Piobaire
Not left of center?
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2006
- Messages
- 81,836
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I think there are much better ways to reduce health care costs if we were going to go to a universal system.
However, if you look at most systems around the world, doctors salaries are lower in the universal system. Although the UK is an exception as General Practioners there often make 80,000-120,000 pounds a year. I don't know about specialists there though.
I also think it would be much easier for the government (politically) to cut health care costs by targeting physicians salaries than to try and reform insurance companies etc. Plus all the populist outrage against those who earn high paying salaries these days makes those with high paying salaries an easy target.
I plan on applying to medical school this summer and have always taken the approach that a career in medicine is not gong to make be incredibly wealthy but that I would always have a job that would allow me to support my family and live quite comfortably.
First, most physicians do not have a "salary." They get paid by doing billable actions. Yes, there are a small number of staff physicians on salaries, but the vast majority simply are not on salary.
Second, physicians follow the money. Why do you think we have more specialists than GPs? They are just like any other group of people in this regard. The actually respond to incentives. I remember when Ontario started to place very low caps on what a physician could earn. The government idiots actually thought they'd work for free, after they hit their caps. No, many moved to the US, some opened part time businesses in other countries, such as Barbados.
Yes, if the US moves to a universal system, the brain trust we call "the Federal Government" will set even more of what is billable. They already set a fair portion of the system, as they set Medicare and senior HMO products, and of course, state bureaucrats set Medicaid rates. However, much of the most lucrative areas are still largely paid out of pocket, like plastic surgery.
It's a long conversation, one I've had just too many times here. Cheers, and g'luck with med school.