title: Where do I send thee? Does physician-ownership affect referral patterns to ambulatory surgery centers?
abstract: For more than three decades, Congress has struggled with potential financial conflicts of interest when physicians share in financial gain from nonprofessional services. This study asks the question: Are physicians who are leading referrers to physician-owned ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) more likely to send Medicaid patients to hospital outpatient clinics than other patients? The comparison group is physicians who are leading referrers to non-physician-owned ASCs, using data from two metropolitan areas. Findings indicate that physicians at physician-owned facilities are more likely than other physicians to refer well-insured patients to their facilities and route Medicaid patients to hospital outpatient clinics.
authors: University of Chicago in Washington, DC, USA. Gabel-Jon@NORC.org
authors: Jon R
authors: JR
authors: Gabel
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Fahlman
authors: Ray
authors: R
authors: Kang
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Wozniak
authors: Phil
authors: P
authors: Kletke
authors: Joel W
authors: JW
authors: Hay
mesh_terms: D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006123:Group Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010067:Ownership; D010414:Pennsylvania; D018584:Physician Self-Referral / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013531:Surgicenters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States