[vineyardmike]

Most doctors I talk to vaguely run around the answer before mumbling that a huge way to cut costs (which will surely happen) is to cut doctors salaries.

Source: once engaged to a doctor who had doctor friends and doctor parents/family.

[gzer0]

And there is a reason why we shouldn't go off of anecdotal evidence. It's blatantly false.

Doctors’ salaries account for only about 8% of U.S. healthcare costs. A 40% cut in these salaries would reduce healthcare spending by only about 3% [1][2].

Doctor salaries are not a huge way to cut costs. If anything this would make the problem worse.

[1] https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-09-14/dont-blame-...

[2] https://pnhp.org/news/doctors-salaries-are-not-the-big-cost/

[vineyardmike]

It’s not false that doctors worry that. Doctors worry that single payer system will reduce their salaries. They’re an easy political target. They’re rich and (in this hypothetical case) their salary would come from the taxpayers. Taxpayers don’t like expensive salaries.

It’s irrelevant how much of the budget it is. It’s about perception and power. If you try to cut soap in the operating room or other supplies, you’ll look bad for endangering the patient. If you try to cut procedures you’ll look bad. If you try to cut doctor salaries, those “overpaid” doctors look bad for complaining.

Doctors have a reputation in america for being extremely well paid. If you tel people making $60k a year that their tax bill for medical costs could be lower if you reduce it by taking $50k from a doctor making $500k (taxpayer dollars!) they’ll support that. Even if it’s not a big amount.

Reducing healthcare spending 3% without any systemic change in medical treatments or equipment or negotiation with pharmaceutical companies is a huge and easy win.