tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post4576421777616462218..comments2024-03-02T02:26:00.928-05:00Comments on bleakonomy: In which I fall in love with a complete strangertetracontadigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604381739383227553noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-14456429811661919782009-07-11T15:42:08.739-04:002009-07-11T15:42:08.739-04:00A couple of thoughts from a non-physician on this ...A couple of thoughts from a non-physician on this inside baseball post...<br /><br />Prof. Reinhardt claimed that if Medicare reduces payments, and in response, physicians reduce Medicare caseloads, it is nevertheless physicians who are "rationing" healthcare. I find this puzzling; if private insurers reimbursement resulted in physicians declining patients, surely the blame would attach to greedy private insurers rather than physicians. So why doesn't this logic apply to government insurance?<br /><br />Regarding the "magic cap" remark, I think the good professor chose another question to answer. Dr. Beville asked what would happen if economic incentives kicked in at some "magic cap" next year. The Prof. talked about long range incentives to enter the profession. The Prof. answer is all well and good unless you are on Medicare and need radiologist services in the next few years.<br /><br />Both questions are good ones, but answering one is not a substitute for answering the other. Dan, what is capped in this scenario? Is total compensation (you can only be paid for N procedures per month) capped? That would appear to be highly problematic if we haven't a surplus of radiologists today. Right?Gadfly Johnnoreply@blogger.com