- Sep 19, 2011
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Health care providers ADMIT they spend over $600 billion in duplicate tests, specialist referrals because they fear lawsuits!
And why hasn't Lawyers been attacked for their contribution to this?
On this board I've raised the question several times YET NOT one of you seem to understand that fear of lawsuits add $600 billion in unnecessary tests, etc. and that Medicare/private insurance is paying this $600 billion!
A common, costly practice
In recent studies, more than 90 percent of physicians reported practicing positive defensive medicine in the past 12 months; unnecessary imaging tests accounted for 43 percent of these actions. More than 92 percent of surgeons reported ordering unnecessary tests to protect themselves.
Another study found a direct relationship between higher malpractice awards and malpractice premiums and Medicare spending, especially with imaging services. The increased spending, however, had no measurable effects on mortality.
In a recent Gallup survey, physicians attributed 34 percent of overall healthcare costs to defensive medicine and 21 percent of their practice to be defensive in nature. Specifically, they estimated that 35 percent of diagnostic tests, 29 percent of lab tests, 19 percent of hospitalizations, 14 percent of prescriptions, and 8 percent of surgeries were performed to avoid lawsuits.
Liability reform has been estimated to result in anywhere from a 5 percent to a 34 percent reduction in medical expenditures by reducing defensive medicine practices, with estimates of savings from $54 billion to $650 billion.
The costs of defensive medicine
So if the EXPERTS i.e. physicians ADMIT they spend up to $650 billion a year JUST to keep from being sued...
Isn't it time we recognize this huge Gorilla in the room?
And why hasn't Lawyers been attacked for their contribution to this?
On this board I've raised the question several times YET NOT one of you seem to understand that fear of lawsuits add $600 billion in unnecessary tests, etc. and that Medicare/private insurance is paying this $600 billion!
A common, costly practice
In recent studies, more than 90 percent of physicians reported practicing positive defensive medicine in the past 12 months; unnecessary imaging tests accounted for 43 percent of these actions. More than 92 percent of surgeons reported ordering unnecessary tests to protect themselves.
Another study found a direct relationship between higher malpractice awards and malpractice premiums and Medicare spending, especially with imaging services. The increased spending, however, had no measurable effects on mortality.
In a recent Gallup survey, physicians attributed 34 percent of overall healthcare costs to defensive medicine and 21 percent of their practice to be defensive in nature. Specifically, they estimated that 35 percent of diagnostic tests, 29 percent of lab tests, 19 percent of hospitalizations, 14 percent of prescriptions, and 8 percent of surgeries were performed to avoid lawsuits.
Liability reform has been estimated to result in anywhere from a 5 percent to a 34 percent reduction in medical expenditures by reducing defensive medicine practices, with estimates of savings from $54 billion to $650 billion.
The costs of defensive medicine
So if the EXPERTS i.e. physicians ADMIT they spend up to $650 billion a year JUST to keep from being sued...
Isn't it time we recognize this huge Gorilla in the room?
