© The Onion
"This newly revised pledge requires doctors to uphold their allegiance to Blue Cross Blue Shield, to avoid pricey tests and referrals whenever possible, and to do no harm to any in-network patient so far as it remains sufficiently cost-effective," said AMA spokesperson Amanda Cummings, noting a further addition to the professional oath that obligates doctors to enforce all co-pays and coinsurance payments.
"The updated text also requires physicians to have a comprehensive working knowledge of their specific financial agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield. And above all, a doctor must, at all times, avoid inflicting any injury or wrong upon the company's bottom line."
Officials added that the new pledge would no longer require doctors to swear by "Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius the surgeon, and likewise Hygeia and Panacea," but rather by Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Scott Serota.
Reader Comments
Older doctors tend to behave appropriately, but young doctors realize they are assessed for profitability by beancounters in healthcare organizations and insurance companies. If they work for a healthcare provider business, they prescribe brand-name drugs rather than generics, order expensive tests and refer people to specialists more often. If they work for a medical organization that also insures its patients, they tend to limit medical care.
satire from the onion falls far too close to reality to be truly funny
no surprise here! Why people do not understand that we allow this to happen! Just the same as people work certain jobs they hate for insurance coverage! Why? FEAR! Let it go, it is a major rip off. We do not need it, it does not make any LOGICAL sense.