RT Journal
A1 Beyer H
T1 THe 300-year-old health care solution
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2009
FD October 26
VO 169
IS 19
SP 1806
OP 1818
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.365
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.365
AB 

			The health care reforms described by Diamond et al1 would create “evidence-based” codified medical practice standards. Their proposal and similar “pay-for-performance” programs will lead to “straight-jacket” medicine, in which to receive payment and avoid legal and economic sanctions, the goal will become to ensure that patients receive the correct codified treatment, not necessarily the one best suited. The danger is that patients may receive more inappropriate care, not less, as more who approximate falling within the guideline are included and fewer who fall within guidelines but may have caveats are not excluded—all for assured payment and to avoid penalties.