- http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-19/silicon-valley-surgeons-risk-moral-authority-for-200-returns.html
- http://www.bloomberg.com/video/surgical-centers-enrich-doctors-irk-insurers-0Cq~SHJEQi6vC6pqy3ekPg.html
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
19-Jul-12
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Some outpatient surgery-center entrepreneurs charge huge “out-of-network” prices and share the profits with the very surgeons who bring in the patients, driving up health care costs.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Waldman obtained data from local, county, state and federal agencies and courts, showing how entrepreneurs were enticing surgeons to refer patients to do their facilities with outsize profits and other incentives such as real estate deals.
Explain types of human sources used.
Waldman interviewed more than 60 doctors, patients, competitors and lawyers do document the rift in the Silicon Valley surgical community between participants in the out-of-network gouging scheme and those physicians who rejected it.
Results:
The Medical Board of California is investigating the surgery centers Waldman wrote about for allegedly overcharging on rates and violating the self-referral and anti-kickback laws.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No corrections or amplifications.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Reach out to a variety of physicians and health care providers in a specific market to find doctors and executives willing to shed light on unethical or illegal conduct. The good doctors and business people know; the challenge is getting them to tell.