Are Medical Education Dollars Buying What They Should?

Abstract

WHETHER or not it sticks in the craw, by federal mandate, health planning does exist, as do the specter of comprehensive national health insurance plans, and the Federal Trade Commission with its alledged assaults on professionalism. There are watch birds set up to control utilization and quality through Professional Standard Review Organizations, audits, and utilization review committees; the $2.7 billion authorized for health professions education by the new health manpower law comes with many strings attached. The public, at least in its federal form, has increasingly been involved in health care and medical education. I was asked to speak for the public interest. I cannot legitimately speak for all my fellow citizens. We even have difficulty according our highest popularly elected officials the power to speak for us. So, with that disclaimer, I will speak about medical education dollars and the public interest. DOLLARS, DISTRIBUTION, DISAFFECTION, AND QUALITY The key