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FNC Medical A-Team’s Dr. Marc Siegel on a report that the government is now allowing Medicare providers to offer gift cards to woo patients.
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Said Terry matter healthcare story that you haven't heard yet -- guardian reports the Department of Health and Human Services is allowing Medicare provider.
To offer twenty dollar grocery store gift cards to patients.
In -- coax them in for taxpayer funded health screenings.
HHS acknowledges that this kind of promotion could.
Violate federal anti kickback lives but says they won't punish their provider any legal issues arise and listen events.
Last -- Walgreens was fine almost.
Eight million dollars for doing something similar.
Here to break it down is doctor Mark Siegel of the Fox News medical -- team -- so at this crazy right.
I mean look.
First of all you know that in Brooklyn there's actually some shady doctors that give out a boom -- -- radio -- but really comment.
You say you have back pain and they test you doing some tests now that's not quite this but I already there I don't know like the background of this -- Where is the government's assumption that even if this was okay and ethical which -- have a question about.
But he -- but was.
What are you giving these patients when they come in -- There's all reading it what else bring some maybe you're -- someone in would not normally go to the doctor.
And -- convincing them to have a flu shot which I know you love -- -- backward.
I'm also convinced that when you lure someone and you may be given them an unnecessary KG.
You might be doing an extra they don't need you could be doing blood tests they don't need and what if you shelled out twenty dollars and you were a little under did you might say.
Better pay that back right away with a -- they don't need right so.
-- -- the government is always assuming that these big medical checkups.
Our cost effective and for the patients good.
Neither is an assumption they -- should make it depends on the doctor.
I try not to over test but some doctors are afraid of malpractice and they're saying I better get everything done while the patients there.
I think patients should come in with a sick I think they should be seen regularly but the idea of lowering -- -- with some kind of a gift certificate.
Is just gonna cost -- tax -- money yeah.
Totally -- -- -- -- a dividend doesn't cost the taxpayer money the medical check -- well.
-- it seems -- would you feel awkward about decimated just there's something very unsavory.
About this idea that they're going out there buying you know like.
The twenty dollars Starbucks card you know -- monitored her in this case is a grocery store.
And trying to get people to come in that it seems like to give away your doctor's office -- -- there's just something sort of tawdry about it.
We are you bring up some -- have been an even think of which is what about the role of the doctor and one about how you perceive your doctor period there's white coat freshly starched stethoscope.
And here's a gift certificate and -- it's so odd and it it undermines.
What the physician would want to be appearing like.
Now at the same time they're trying to get people to comment for regular visits that is a good thing right.
Well I think it's a good idea for patients that come in on a regular basis I don't have any patients in my practice that I wanna see less than once a year a -- of a -- They have some active medical problems.
But when Obama -- came -- there's this whole idea that this should be some kind of a preventive -- -- especially with Medicare.
And I have a problem -- that it's not how I practice I use the yearly physical if I haven't seen the patient.
Yeah but I don't think that the coping should be got rid of I don't think -- everyone should automatically -- all of these screenings it depends of the patient it's not one size fits all.
No and an eight you know immediately sort of your your ears perk up when you hear Medicare because we we're hearing about more and more doctors who don't want to accept.
New Medicare patients.
Because of you know the rate at which they are being repeated here they are trying to lure more Medicare patients in the is that strange -- And that's what I make the point that if you pay you twenty dollars -- -- getting -- back from the mean you wouldn't believe how little doctors are actually -- -- -- I know with a -- stretch in the losing another 2% on top of the such as authentic.
To see these patients anyway that if you're also giving them twenty dollars they're almost by necessity must be something going on in the office but they're going to tax airport to make up for which I don't like -- -- like -- Medicare is not pay you much more than that so you don't wanna do unnecessary tests and -- Our target what patients to commit when the -- -- -- -- you don't need to use it to -- for the Mark Siegel thanks so much vigorously nine.
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