Couldn't we fix the health care system by paying doctors less?

Slate ^ | Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, at 6:33 PM ET | Christopher Beam

[eartotheground]

President Obama has promised to pay for health care reform mostly by ridding the system of wasteful spending. The message is that reform will be painless: We're cutting the fat, not the meat. But what if your paycheck is part of the fat? More to the point: Does cutting back on wasteful health care spending mean that doctors will make less money?

Actually, let's split that question in two. The first is whether U.S. doctors are overpaid. The second is whether paying them less would save all that much. The answers, respectively: yes and no.

There's no question that doctors in the United States make a lot of money, especially compared with their counterparts abroad. American doctors make, on average, four times what French doctors earn. And it's not just because everyone in America makes more money: The gap between doctors' incomes and those of professionals is far bigger in the United States than elsewhere. In the 1990s, the ratio of the average American doctor's income to the average American employee's income was about 5.5. In Germany, it was 3.4; Canada, 3.2; Australia, 2.2; Switzerland, 2.1; France, 1.9; Sweden, 1.5; the United Kingdom, 1.4.

[eartotheground]

Well Chris, say you went to the local watering hole, and a bunch of folks upset about your article decided to stomp your bones. The ambulance picks you up, takes you to the hospital. You are diagnosed with a ruptured thoracic aorta (a tear in the huge artery in your chest that goes to your heart, for you journalists, attorneys and politicians out there). A quick trip to the OR and a cardiothoracic surgeon cracks your chest and saves your life. Of course, this cardiothoracic surgeon had to endure 7 or 8 years of post-medical school training at a minimum wage salary, plus being under the threat of being fired from the residency/fellowship at any time for the slightest problem, or just on a whim. Now he's made the "big time" but has to pay hundreds of thousands a year in liability insurance, be on call 24/7, not to mention having to endure idiocy from government bureaucrats, attorneys, as well as "journalists" like you.

Anyway, in spite of the understandable temptation to do otherwise, he saves your miserable life. Now, is he still overpaid?

Maybe "journalists" are overpaid. Surgeons have to be right 100% of the time, you guys just have to be close once in a while perhaps.

Don't worry tho, all those "overpaid" physicians are out looking for an exit strategy right now. So if you're going to get sick, better do it soon before all the smart doctors are gone.

[nmh]

I don’t want the GOVERNMENT determining anyone’s income that is working for it.

[freedumb2003]

You get what you pay for.

Me? I want any and every doctor who looks at me, much less operates on me, to live like a Persian King.

[null and void]

Sure. Why not force them to work for free?

[mazda77]

Can’t we fix the MSM corruption problem by paying them less?

[tflabo]

Why the Democrats just raised the minimum wage! That should be good enough for all the new doctors under ObamaCare!

[org.whodat]

As long as the doctors want to work for government, their pay will be controlled by government.

If you cut out health care for illegals, the doctors income will be reduced, because their billing of the tax payers will stop.

[Juan Medén]

Thanks, eartotheground. I like the idea of exposing journalists to the same kinds of liability to which doctors are exposed. I have a few suits I could bring right away. Then we’ll see how journalists feel about tort reform.

[Grunthor]

“Couldn’t we fix the health care system by paying doctors less?”

Profits are evil.

-American left.

[RC2]

I totally agree. The amount of money it takes to educate these people is unreal. I also know GP’s that make less than $50K.....that’s after paying thousands in insurance to cover crazy law suits. I’ve told my doctor to never worry about me suing him. He’s a great guy and if he makes a mistake, it’s a mistake, nothing more.

[Tarpon]

How about we fix the health care system by paying lawyers less.

[cripplecreek]

That’s one of the ways the soviets kept costs down. Worked wonders. LOL

[Jim Noble]

Couldn't we fix the health care system by paying doctors less?

Do you feel lucky, punk?

Well, DO YA?

[LibFreeOrDie]

Excellent!

And many doctors are small business owners of their own medical practice, or partner with other doctors in one.

Just like lawyers... but I don’t hear anyone in DC threatening to control how much money lawyers and law firms can make.

[GnuHere]

Good one - I’m still not sure that’s graphic enough for “Chris” to get through his thick head! BTW Chris, in the future, the ambulance driver will also be the one doing your surgery. Let us know how that works out for ya.

[Gaffer]

Yes Chris...American Doctors are overpaid....let’s reduce their compensation and after you get your ass kicked senseless, you can trot on down to the local ER where Dr.Faheem El Jabar Mohammed Zaid, recently express-visa’d in from Afghanistan can treat your extensive wounds.

[darkwing104]

Couldn't we fix the health care system by paying doctors less?

Try Tort reform and eliminating Government interference. The free market will take care of the rest.

[goodnesswins]

Start by paying the ambulance chasing LAWYERS LESS!!!!

[bikerman]

Gee Chris you left out what are the doctors in Kenya paid.I cant believe your that dumb oh wait your a journalists. Never mind.

[bikerman]

BINGO!