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The article inform US President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to "marshal the forces of science" in his administration.

EVERY year, like half a million other doctors, I sign on to the government's largest no-bid, no-compete contract. We agree to treat Medicare patients for a set rate, and Medicare agrees to take all of us on board, whether or not our services are needed in the city or town where we practice. As a result, doctors -- in particular, specialists -- flock to some parts of the country and shun others. The trouble with this is that when there are too many doctors in one area, too much money gets spent on health care. But the system could take advantage of this fact to save money. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE longstanding push-pull between Medicare and Congress has erupted again. Last week, Congress, overriding a presidential veto, canceled Medicare's scheduled 10.6 percent cut in payment rates for doctors, and instead raised the rates 1.1 percent. But this action fails to address the problem with the Medicare payment system, which is not the amounts doctors are paid but the way their payments are calculated. Medicare pays doctors for specific services. If a patient has a checkup that includes an X-ray, a urine analysis and a physical, Medicare pays the doctor three separate fees. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]