Author Interviews, Cost of Health Care, Orthopedics / 26.10.2016
Patients Greatly Underestimate Reimbursement For Orthopedic Procedures
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Kelechi Okoroha, M.D.
Orthopaedic Surgery House Officer
Henry Ford Health System
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Historically, patient perceptions of surgeon reimbursement have been exaggerated compared with actual reimbursement. Currently there has been an increased focus or reducing health care cost, increasing access to health care and a shift to tie Medicare and insurance reimbursement to quality outcomes. Among these changes was the reduction in reimbursement payments for orthopedic surgeons. When we polled over 200 of our clinic patients, we found that most patients don’t think an orthopedic surgeon is overpaid but they greatly exaggerate how much a surgeon is reimbursed by Medicare for performing knee surgery. When told of the reimbursement payments, patients found them too be low and said they would be willing to pay more out-of-pocket costs. Patients also believe a surgeon should be compensated more for having fellowship training.
• Nearly 90 percent of patients say physicians are not overpaid and their salaries should not be cut.
• 61 percent of patients say a surgeon’s salary should not be tied to outcomes.
• 79 percent of patients say reimbursement to drug and device companies should be reduced.
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