1. Where do I send thee? Does physician-ownership affect referral patterns to ambulatory surgery centers?
- Author
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Gabel JR, Fahlman C, Kang R, Wozniak G, Kletke P, and Hay JW
- Subjects
- Conflict of Interest, Diagnosis-Related Groups, Group Practice, Health Services Research, Humans, Insurance, Health, Medicaid statistics & numerical data, Ownership, Pennsylvania, Referral and Consultation economics, United States, Outpatient Clinics, Hospital statistics & numerical data, Physician Self-Referral statistics & numerical data, Practice Patterns, Physicians' statistics & numerical data, Referral and Consultation statistics & numerical data, Surgicenters statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
For more than three decades, Congress has struggled with potential financial conflicts of interest when physicians share in financial gain from nonprofessional services. This study asks the question: Are physicians who are leading referrers to physician-owned ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) more likely to send Medicaid patients to hospital outpatient clinics than other patients? The comparison group is physicians who are leading referrers to non-physician-owned ASCs, using data from two metropolitan areas. Findings indicate that physicians at physician-owned facilities are more likely than other physicians to refer well-insured patients to their facilities and route Medicaid patients to hospital outpatient clinics.
- Published
- 2008
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