re: Healthcare costs and tort reform - crushing your myths

quote:

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Gallup reports that one in four healthcare dollars spent in healthcare can be attributed to defensive medicine – about $650 billion annually.

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It's almost impossible to get a valid number. It's too intertwined with insurance. If a patient doesn't NEED an MRI of their head, but... since 1) they aren't paying and 2) it lowers the chance of getting sued -- why would you NOT order as a doctor? There are almost no visible consequences to the doctor nor patient.

Medicaid also complicates the issue. Those patients are much more likely to sue. And are very demanding of procedures above-and-beyond standard. NO doctor is going to admit to ordering unnecessary nor defensive procedures if Medicaid/Medicare is the payor. Opens them up to fraud prosecution.