Is it a breach of trust for a physician to market a Medicare Advantage plan?
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My 85-year old dad called this afternoon and read me a letter from his primary care physician.
In essence the letter said that the physician was now associated with a certain Medicare Advantage plan, and that his office would be happy to explain the advantages of this particular plan and answer any questions. It also presented some of the benefits of the plan, along with other marketing information.
Since it came from his doctor, Dad was wondering if he needed to investigate making a change from his current plan. After all, the doctor was recommending it.
We talked, and agreed that he should stay with the plan he currently has.
To me, this feels like a breach of trust between a physician and his patients. The physician obviously has a financial interest in the plan or he would not be spending money to market it.
What do you think?
DandyID
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I wouldn’t have a problem with it providing the doctor was up front about the why. The situation might be diferent if your Dad didn’t have anyone to ask about it and the doctor was not being up front. Doctors are fearful that the goverment is going to make it too difficult for them tostay in business, and they are looking for any “advantage” they can get. Not any different from my perspective than AARP pushing a plan that they benefit from, or Congress pushing a plan they are getting paid to support even when their constituents are against it. Money has been so much a part of the game for so long, and will only get worse if the government takes over.
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