Kalera Ashley (On 03 Mar 98) said this..? to Mark Probert
MP> KA>What disturbs me most is how many GPs are willing to prescribe these
MP> KA>medications with little or no background in diagnosis and treatment
MP> KA>of the  conditions for which they are appropriate.
 KA> MP>
MP> How do you know that there are so **many** GPs who do this?
 KA> Insurance company policy.
 You have evidence that this is 'insurance company' policy?
 KA> After observing it a couple of times, I asked my doctor. Aetna, among
 KA> other insurance carriers, discourages GPs from doing referrals and
 KA> actually offers kickbacks for NOT doing referrals,
 Aetna offers kickbacks?  Sounds illegal to me. It also sounds like a
 fairy tale.  I rather doubt that your doctor told you that "Aetna,
 among other insurance carriers" offers kickbacks.  Any MD caught
 taking a kickback for not making referrals if/when indicated would
 more than likely lose his/her license and his/her malpractice
 insurance company would have to defend a suit.
 KA> so many doctors are
 KA> in the uncomfortable position of being unofficially pressured to
 KA> prescribe medications they aren't really qualified to prescribe.
 Evidence....
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