Findings from HCFO Study Highlighted in American Medical News

Print

Findings from a HCFO-sponsored study led by Laurence C. Baker, Ph.D., were featured in a recent article on the website of American Medical News. The article, “Physician payment can vary widely for same procedures” highlighted findings that were presented in June at AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting in Boston.  The study found that physicians in the same geographic area frequently are paid at different rates for the same task. While Baker acknowledged that variation might be due to the negotiating power of larger physician groups, he also stated there was an “element of randomness” in the varying rates, and that cutting fees at the top end of the pay scale may help to reduce costs.