Dr "payments", what do you think about this.

This is a website that discloses Medicare payments as part of the open records of the government. Doctors that treat cancer are often at the top of the list due to the high costs of drugs and treatments. For example my wife has a monthly shot dispensed by her oncologist. The shot costs $6,000. The Doctor charges a hundred for the visit. On the report he is listed for $6,100.

So this doesn't tell you anything about the doctors income, just how much Medicare paid his practice for Medicate covered patients.

I see what you are referring to. Travel honorariums, consulting, etc are a part of the medical business and this discloses them. Certainly a speaking fee is income, many of the rest are reimbursements for business expenses. I think the open disclosure is great as it gives us patients more information with which to make our choices. I know that my urologist is an expert and pioneer with the GreenLight laser treatment for BPH. The company sends him to the Urology convention each year so he can train other doctors. I am sure he gets paid for his time and expertise and expenses are reimbursed. I see no problem with that. If he did it the majority of the time and didn't keep my appointments or rushed me I would be looking for a new uro.

My original response was based on a report about a year ago that disclosed Medicare payments to doctors in the Atlanta area. The news media did a lot of explaining about what these payments are and importantly what they are not. The raw numbers don't tell the entire story.

It sounds like you have an honest concern whether the doctor is right for you and whether this outside income is infringing on his practice at your expense. If he isn't meeting your objectives I would be looking for someone else regardless of his outside income. Ask your doctor friends that didn't make the list about it and get their take.