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The real cost of malpractice is not the malpractice insurance, it is the over-ordering of tests/imaging that occurs as a result of that threat to cover yourself. That expense is HUGE. I personally am compelled to over order imaging studies that are medically probably not necessary, but from a legal protection standpoint, probably are. We practice and do what is best for our patients, but the appeal of imaging is that it is non-invasive and low risk with no complications. The only problem is the cost, which is a very large factor in health care expenses. While the direct costs of malpractice are low, the indirect costs are enormous.
I work in the industry in finance, and I think the way the government works now with payments from government sponsored programs is the wrong way. If they make a single payer system by expanding those systems hospitals would fold overnight, largely because in pretty much every state government payers pay under cost. Hospitals in our area have costs that average 50% of charges, Medicare pays 43-45% of charges, Medicaid pays 35% of charges (and there are lower reimbursements, some programs as low as 10%)...so all those contracted payers get to pay more for their care to subsidize them in addition to taxes.
Until the government pays actual cost for their participants, cutting costs won't do any good if they won't pay it and I'm not going to support it.
Yes, if it includes everyone, it is most definatly cheaper. Look how rich the H.C. companies have gotten through "cherry picking"
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