Dear Dr. Willner,
The health care world is changing. It is being more regulated by health insurance companies. As you know, I am a Board Certified Occupational Physician. I order physical therapy all the time for my patients. Few weeks ago, retired Orthopedic Surgeon called me and said the physical therapy I ordered on a patient was ‘appropriate and he will authorize it. I asked him why are “you” calling me. He said this particular insurance company hired him to do utilization review on physicians and said he must do doctor to doctor calls on all orders of physical therapy to verify if it is appropriately ordered. The retired orthopedic surgeon said he makes good money working for the Heath insurance Company; What is happening to medical care?
Sincerely,
Anonymous