[davnn]

There appears to be (almost) no true competition in healthcare, therefore no real incentives to improve productivity. Wages in healthcare rise disproportionately without productivity gains (Baumols disease); why invest in digitalization?

[the_d3f4ult]

Wages in healthcare have decreased Year-Over-Year relative to inflation since at least the 90's. Productivity has increased in terms of the number of patients seen / day.

[resource_waste]

I'm not sure where you got this information, but it does not apply to Physician services who have gotten 5% year over year increases in medicare reimbursements.

Physical Therapists? Sure. But the American Medical Association is a fierce lobbyist.

[the_d3f4ult]

https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/medicare-medica...

The AMA is indeed a fierce lobby - just not for physicians. They are widely regarded as a shill for hospital interests rather than doctors or medical professionals.

[manmathmo]

Competition isn't the only way to hold down wage costs in healthcare. The UK system involves a combination of monopsony and economies of scale. (I make no other claims about the pros and cons!).