Obtuse Ordering

After examining the amount of physician-related spending on various tests, scans, x-rays and examinations ordered by almost 22,000 general internists and hospitalists – doctors that work exclusively in a hospital, but do no invasive procedures – over almost 500,000 distinct Medicare hospital visits over the four years ending 12/31/14, and after controlling for the health of patient, it turns out that higher physician spending is not associated with better patient outcomes.