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Opinion
Peter R. Orszag

To Save on Health Care, Change What the Doctor Orders

A new study confirms that patients aren't likely to think like consumers and shop around.

One MRI is a lot like another, but consumers don’t shop around.

One MRI is a lot like another, but consumers don’t shop around.

Source: BSIP, via Getty Images

Health care costs too much for what we get in return. Is it more reasonable to hope that doctors will curb unnecessary spending, or consumers? I have long believed that while both are useful, our primary focus should be on influencing what doctors recommend.

Recent evidence shows that should indeed be where we put most of the emphasis. Consumer-driven health care may have some benefits, but it doesn’t come close to a doctor-driven approach.