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Fees: are they getting out of hand?

In the past, Medical Economics has conducted an annual survey of fees charged by office based physicians in general practice, family and internal medicine, obstetrics-gynecology and pediatrics, and general surgery. This year, the data-base was expanded to include six other specialties. The article provides a series of tables exhibiting the fees charged by physicians for first office visits, return visits, history and physical exams, and other general procedures specific to particular specialties. It is pointed out that the fee for return office visits has doubled in eight years. The increase in costs of routine services accounts for much of the 9.6% increase in physicians' fees during the last year. Primary care doctors have initiated the highest fee hikes for 1978. This is attributed to young physicians entering the field and charging more than their older colleagues. Surgical fees have doubled in cost in the last ten years. For the past three years, physicians' fees have increased at the average rate of 9.5%, usually exceeding the Consumer Price Index. Physician services only account for 20% of the entire health care bill, but due to their visibility, they are subject to criticism and careful review. Since the pressure is on for health care cost containment, the author advises physicians to think again before raising their fees in the near future.