This doesn't surprise me: The "fee for service" system encourages doctors to perform as many services as they can so they can bill for more. I've certainly had my fair share of tests and procedures where I wonder if the provider was just trying to find something to bill for.
I'm also not surprised that some providers will try to figure out which codes they can use to get the most revenue. ("Hey, if I do procedure A instead of B, I get paid more, so why would I do B?")
That being said, I also wouldn't be surprised if many of these turn into lawsuits, or ultimately push to revise the whole "fee for service" system.
"Figure out which codes they can use to get the most revenue" is a billion dollar industry with many players, subspecialties and surprisingly few lawsuits.
A lack of lawsuits can just be an off the record agreement that no one benefits from the entire mess being dragged in front of the courts with public record laws, because that is how you give future Luigis ideas.
The more shady the industry, the more everyone involved is shying awaa from sunlight.
The counter to this is that now when you go to urgent care, they're only allowed to do one thing and send you to the ER for any other concurrent problems where you pay 10x more because it's an "emergency"
I'm also not surprised that some providers will try to figure out which codes they can use to get the most revenue. ("Hey, if I do procedure A instead of B, I get paid more, so why would I do B?")
That being said, I also wouldn't be surprised if many of these turn into lawsuits, or ultimately push to revise the whole "fee for service" system.