From a health standpoint, the major problem with the fee-for-service system of health care is that:
doctors' fees are too high.
doctors are not interested in their patients.
doctors waste too much time trying to collect their fees.
people are required to pay the doctor's fee before receiving any health services.
there is uneven geographic distribution of doctors and an overabundance of specialists.
The major problem with the fee-for-service system of health care from a health standpoint is the uneven geographic distribution of doctors and an overabundance of specialists.
To understand why this is a problem, we need to understand the fee-for-service system of health care. In this system, doctors are paid based on the number of services they provide or procedures they perform. This means that doctors have a financial incentive to provide more services, which can result in overutilization of tests and procedures that may not be necessary.
One consequence of this system is the uneven geographic distribution of doctors. In fee-for-service systems, doctors are more likely to settle in areas with higher populations and higher rates of health insurance coverage, as this allows them to have a larger patient base and therefore earn more money. This creates geographic disparities in access to health care, where people in rural or underserved areas have less access to doctors and specialists.
Furthermore, the fee-for-service system also encourages doctors to specialize in lucrative procedures rather than primary care. Specialist procedures generally have higher reimbursement rates compared to primary care services. This has led to an overabundance of specialists and a shortage of primary care physicians, which can result in limited access to comprehensive and preventive care.
Overall, the fee-for-service system's focus on quantity over quality of care can lead to higher health care costs, fragmentation of care, and reduced access to care, particularly for those in underserved areas.