About half of southwestern Idaho’s 1,400 physicians are now employed by St. Luke’s or its smaller competitor St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. The employed physicians have said they feel pressured by their new employers to reach financial goals, often by performing unnecessary tests or admitting patients unnecessarily, according to the report.
As a result, the price of a colonoscopy in the area has quadrupled. Also, St. Alphonsus has accused St. Luke’s of charging three times more for laboratory work compared to other facilities, according to the report. Additionally, the remaining independent physicians in the area have reported lower referral rates from employed physicians.
St. Luke’s has said it is employing physicians to position itself to provide more coordinated care. St. Luke’s has applied to become a CMS accountable care organization, according to the report.
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