General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why Americans Are Drowning in Medical Debt [View all]seabeckind
(1,957 posts)While there are some independent doctors, most belong to a consortium, a health "network". In effect the doctors are employees of the network. The network controls most access to healthcare, including rehab facities, etc. They have bought out the community hospitals.
That wasn't true where I used to live but the Franciscan health group was trying to move in and take over the local independent hospital and buy out the small doctor group.
As I said, this maximizing of profits thru procedures is across industries. When I moved across country using United, the company divested the drivers and they are considered independent contractors, hire their own loaders, then bill the company. In effect, their procedures increase the cost to the customer and squeeze the "employees" and then they rake off the profit.
A true competitive model would correct this but there is no competition. In the case of the health networks, they all work exactly the same. Instead of fighting among themselves for pieces of the cow, they decided that each would get half. The competitor has to be satisfied with the part that falls off.