Physician reimbursement: Diagnosis and prescription

The current way the vast majority of physicians are reimbursed is far from perfect. Even though no ideal system will ever be devised, it is possible to do much better. The UCR system has long outlived its usefulness, if, infact, it was ever useful. Payments per unit of service should be realigned. Patients' uncertainty with respect to their cost-sharing obligation could be reduced by eliminating per-case participation arrangements and by providing better information to patients on which physicians have agreed to participate.

Duke Scholars

Author Frank A. Sloan Economics