Health Care Cost Containment Education for Physicians in the Military Health Services System
Abstract
This paper examines the underlying causal factors relative to spiralling health care costs. Special emphasis is placed on the role and responsibility of the physician concerning these costs. The physician's dominant role and patterns of practice are seen as significant determining factors in the total expenditures for health care. Overall lack of incentives for cost effective medical practice, lack awareness of the economic impact of physician's decisions, and insufficient resource management skills on behalf of the physician combine to further exacerbate the problem of rising health care costs. Cost containment education for physicians is seen as a method of injecting cost awareness and cost-benefit analysis into the medical education process early in the physician's career before his practice patterns are set. Emphasis is placed on the balance of access, quality, and cost of health care costs. Cost containment education for physicians is seen as a viable alternative to continued regulatory control of health care costs. Cost containment education for Military Health Services System (MHSS) physicians is seen as especially desirable due to their increased authority and responsibility within the organizational structure. A cost containment education program for MHSS physicians is outlined in this paper with recommendations for a pilot project. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA093592
Entities
People
- John Edward Carsten
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School