Monday, June 27, 2011

Save $347,370: The answer is here

For the latest silly use of tax money, let's consider this summary from the New York Times about the US using mystery shoppers "to pose as patients, call doctors’ offices and request appointments to see how difficult it is for people to get care when they need it."

What's the rationale for this?

The administration says the survey will address a “critical public policy problem”: the increasing shortage of primary care doctors, including specialists in internal medicine and family practice. It will also try to discover whether doctors are accepting patients with private insurance while turning away those in government health programs that pay lower reimbursement rates.


Oh, please. For years, the government has been systematically underpaying primary care doctors relative to others, as part of a deeply flawed process of rate-setting. Let's start with that as a "critical public policy problem."

5 comments:

76 Degrees in San Diego said...

It really is a small amount of money given what is at stake: the funding of graduate medical education and having an adequate primary care work force to meet the needs of the country. You could always use the money to build another bridge that is rarely used...

Paul Levy said...

Sorry, I can't imagine that the appropriations process with regard to GME funding would be at all affected by this kind of survey.

Anonymous said...

Ummm, Paul,

How much has (and continues to be) spent at your former health care institution for it's similar "Mystery Shopping Program...."

Just keeping you honest...those who have lived in "transparent" houses should not throw stones...

Smile, M

Paul Levy said...

That is a totally different thing, bringing about a lot of self-improvement.

As for keeping honest, how about identifying yourself....

Paul Levy said...

Also, in our place, secret shoppers immediately introduced themselves to staffers after the calls and gave feedback.