Given the lobbying power of the American Medical Association and the unimpeachable importance of their clients’ work, It’s perhaps impolitic to suggest that doctors make too much money. But what about dead doctors?

The New York Times’ Robert Pear summarizes a report from a Senate subcommittee that between 2000-07 anywhere from $60 to $92 million dollars in medicare funds went to dead doctors. Almost 500,000 deceased doctors were registered as receiving Dept. of Health and Human Services money to supply medical equipment to medicare patients.

It’s a darkly humorous story of government waste, though I’m not sure how much of a scandal it is. Was the money truly going nowhere? Or was it going to the deceased doctors’ living colleagues who then did provide the medicare services? Further inquiries with (living) doctors may be required.-MB

Comment RSS - You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.