Introduction: The house of medicine and medical prices -- The enduring influence of the house of medicine over prices -- The science of work and payment reform -- How doctors get paid -- Conflicts of interest and problems of evidence -- Complexity, agency capture, and the game of codes -- Fixing medical prices

Medicare¿s physician fees may not always reflect efficiencies that occur when a physician performs multiple services for the same patient on the same day, and some resources required for these services do not need to be duplicated. This report examined: (1) the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services¿ (CMS) efforts to set appropriate fees for services furnished together; and (2) additional opportunities for CMS to avoid excessive payments when services are furnished together. The report examined relevant policies, laws, and regulations; interviewed CMS officials and others; and analyzed claims data to identify opportunities for further savings. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.