HMOs and physician conflicts of interest.
In a recent issue of this journal, Francis Beckwith's "The Ethics of Referral Kickbacks and Self-Referral and the HMO Physician as Gatekeeper: An Ethical Analysis" provided an admirably provocative defense of the claim that Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) physician gatekeepers are morally indistinguishable from physician referral kickbacks and self-referrals. Here I will argue that Beckwith's defense is weak. I will also make some tentative suggestions about approaching the issue of physician conflicts of interest.
Rainbolt
George
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D016265:Conflict of Interest; D005607:Fraud / Q000191:economics* / Q000941:ethics*; D020793:Gatekeeping; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D010816:Physician Incentive Plans / Q000941:ethics; D018584:Physician Self-Referral / Q000941:ethics*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000191:economics* / Q000941:ethics*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics* / Q000941:ethics*