We get what we pay for, right? But maybe not at the doctor's office. A new survey suggests that most Americans aren't convinced that the best doctors cost the most money.
The study, led by Kathryn Phillips, a professor of health economics and health services research at the University of California, San Francisco, polled over 2,000 U.S. adults. Participants were asked four questions about the link between cost and quality of care.
The responses to each question showed that a solid majority don't believe that paying more for medical care is often worth it. Between 58 and 71 percent ruled against the idea that higher price meant better care, depending on the question.
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For instance, most did not believe that a doctor who charges less for the same service as another doctor is likely offering an inferior service. Similarly, a majority said that higher prices did not typically indicate a higher quality of care.
The study showed that when consumers are offered price transparency, there appears to be little standing in the way of them opting for the cheapest services, whenever possible. There does not appear to be a strong voice in their head telling them they should pick the more expensive options.
And yet, Phillips noted to Kaiser Health News, the minority of respondents who did link cost to quality were more likely to have comparison shopped for health care services in the past.
The skepticism of high cost health care may also come as a result of growing awareness about the inefficiencies of the U.S. health care system. The U.S. spends far more per capita on health care than any other western country and yet produces public health outcomes — life expectancy for instance — inferior to its peers.
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