[ryanburk]

> "We expect to collect 60 cents of every dollar we bill"

you have to be careful with that statement since it can be a clever way of talking about what insurance agrees to pay with the chain versus the "retail" rate the doctors charge.

my father is a general practitioner and I was always amazed when he started saying about 25 years ago that he wouldn't let me become a GP if I had gone into medicine. and this article covers all of his concerns well.

malpractice is a big part of the issue and it varies state to state. for example, in pennsylvania malpractice insurance is amazingly expensive. and people sue all the time, which is sad unless it is gross incompetence, since every doctor I've met is trying their best.