Know your worth: A few last words from AMA chair

AMA Leader Commentary. By William G. Plested III, MD, July 5, 2004.

AMA LEADER COMMENTARY

A few words about current events in medical practice

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A message to all physicians from the chair of the AMA Board of Trustees, William G. Plested III, MD.

For my last column, I want to revisit the growing problem of inadequate physician reimbursement. In past columns, I have briefly outlined the genesis and progression of this problem, and I have stressed the importance of addressing it. To that end, I suggested that individual physicians undertake the simple exercise of determining their own worth.

My suggestion was not particularly well received by some physicians, who find no reason for such an evaluation. Let me explain why I feel that this process is an absolute necessity as an initial step.

A review of the past 15 to 20 years of physician reimbursement in the United States quickly reveals that public and private third-party payers are intent on imposing rock-bottom reimbursement levels.

What's more, we are inundated daily about the need to reduce the cost of health care even further. The most consistently used method of cost control has been the repeated lowering of physician reimbursement by government and private insurers. This will continue until physicians say "No!"

In past columns, I have advised physicians to look carefully at the value of their own work, and I have done so for two reasons.

First, this exercise will make clear the growing inequity between what you estimate your work is worth compared with how your work is valued by others.

Second, this exercise will force all physicians to get the hard facts about their practices -- and to decide where they draw the line.

I often speak to physicians who have signed contracts to provide services to insured patients for progressively decreasing reimbursement rates. I continually ask myself, how can anyone be successful in improving overall reimbursement when physicians sign such contracts?