[analog31]

Indeed, I've read that many if not most doctors are self employed. They also own the clinics and have access to "insider" investments such as purchasing and operating diagnostic equipment. In addition, I've also read that doctors make up a large proportion of the investors in medical provider businesses, and even the malpractice insurance industry.

I'd expect salaries to be an incomplete measure of where the money is going, and to whom.

I think the only way to get a true cost accounting of the health care system is to operate the whole thing. This may be why other countries have lower costs.

[nradov]

That hasn't been true for a while now. More and more physicians are employees of large provider groups rather than owners or partners in small practices. The provider organizations have to merge and consolidate in order to get negotiating power for dealing with payers.