Re:The Problem of Doctors’ Salaries
by adventured on Wednesday November 22, 2017 @12:44PM
(#15758737)
> We already have. It turns out that patients generally don't want this. When given the choice, they generally opt for the practitioner with more training (the physician) over the one with less (an NP or PA).
That's because there's no price consequence for the majority of people in that circumstance. If the doctor costs $500 to see, the 2 year example costs $50, and the person actually has to feel that cost, it's very obvious which one they will choose.
Most working Americans get heavily subsidized insurance from their employer; most of the rest get almost entirely subsidized coverage from the government. Accordingly, very few Americans ever directly touch the cost of care. The majority of all Americans never get anywhere near that in fact. That's one of the big reasons why we're spending a trillion dollars per year beyond what we should be.
That's because there's no price consequence for the majority of people in that circumstance. If the doctor costs $500 to see, the 2 year example costs $50, and the person actually has to feel that cost, it's very obvious which one they will choose.
Most working Americans get heavily subsidized insurance from their employer; most of the rest get almost entirely subsidized coverage from the government. Accordingly, very few Americans ever directly touch the cost of care. The majority of all Americans never get anywhere near that in fact. That's one of the big reasons why we're spending a trillion dollars per year beyond what we should be.