[sebmellen]

> The researchers emphasized that this study focused on common procedures, and on older Medicare patients. This means that the findings may not apply to other types of patients, or to other surgical procedures.

Is there any reason Medicare would play a role in the surgeon's performance?

[echelon]

Many practices refuse to take Medicare patients.

It's less pay, more paperwork.

Sucks if you're on Medicare. You're stuck with the doctors that do accept it, which probably weeds out some of the better practices.

Healthcare and getting old suck in the US. Think about how this might affect, say, your parents. And eventually you.

[cmeacham98]

Medicare (as in the method of payment) obviously wouldn't, but by only polling Medicare patients they bias the patients, as Medicare patients are predominately the elderly.

[johncolanduoni]

Medicare patients are all either 65 or older or suffering from a specific covered chronic disease.

[thaumasiotes]

Well, it doesn't pay well.