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The Price of Health pp 227–244Cite as

Physicians and Cost Control

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Part of the book series: Philosophy and Medicine ((PHME,volume 21))

Abstract

It can be argued that there are only two policy alternatives for the United States regarding the integration of cost control into the health care system: first, rationing by government, private payers, and health care plans through administrative rules, or second, rationing by providers and patients in response to economic incentives. In the first approach the rules of resource allocation are defined outside the provider-patient relationship on the basis of institution- or society- determined resource constraints. Certain service options are not made available, and providers and patients are made to choose what other services will be provided on the basis of the allocated resources. This approach is exemplified by the regulatory policies of the 1970s, which attempted to contain costs by imposing limits on the availability of resources and establishing guidelines for resource use.1

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Charles E. Begley

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  1. Charles E. Begley
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, Illinois, USA

    George J. Agich

  2. School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Charles E. Begley

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© 1986 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Begley, C.E. (1986). Physicians and Cost Control. In: Agich, G.J., Begley, C.E. (eds) The Price of Health. Philosophy and Medicine, vol 21. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4704-7_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4704-7_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8592-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4704-7

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