Doctor charged if doesn't administer vaxes?

[Spencersmom]

Quick question. A friend and I were discussing vaccines. I don't vax, she does. She told me that her doctor strongly recommends vaccines and told her that if he doesn't give them to his patients he is fined by the "government" for this. I have no idea how to research this but this sounds like a load of hogwash to me. Can anyone speak to this or tell me where I might find this kind of information? My friend does whatever this doctor says and I really think she needs a reality check about whose best interests he's looking out for. It does not seem to be her kids at this point. Thanks!

Oh and I am in CT by the way, if that helps.

[nataliachick7]

I know for a fact that doctors get more money if they have a high rate of vaccination in their practice.
Whether or not they get actual fines, im not sure.

[caned & able]

That is nonsense.

The "fine" is a reduction in the money he gets for a lower rate of vaccinations in his practice.

Ask him for evidence/documentation.

[Spencersmom]

Thanks for your replies. From whom do they get money for high vaccinations rates? Obviously they get paid for office visits/administering the shots vs not seeing kids as much but do they really get paid for giving vaccines? That seems like such a conflict of interests.

[sh0rtchica]

Ask Dr. Sears had an interesting post about compensating doctors for vaccines. i had a bad experience with a ped office that told me i would owe them $400 if my DS didn't get vaccinated. that didn't go over well.

[Spencersmom]

I read the article and will pass it on to my friend. I also plan to ask my doctor, who is VERY easy going about vaccines, what the deal is from his perspective. I wonder too if sometimes it's just easier for docs, who are limited on time, to just "simplify" their argument to save time. Saying it's a fine makes it take 1 minute instead of 5. And, if insurance companies really do hold money owed to you until they go chart review, the doctor could see this as a fine. If he earned the money but they withhold it from him if he does not pass, that might be construed as a fine, yk? Hmm. Pretty gray.

[bbrandonsmom]

Lisa-they really did that? I'd have had words to tell that dr, wow the nerve of them.

pp-what others said and inform your friend

[Ruthla]

Of course they get paid for administering vaccines. However little of their time it takes, it IS something that needs to be done by a qualified medical professional.

What I don't know, however, is just how much they're paid for the act of giving the shots, if they make profit from sale of the vaccine itself, etc.

[katelove]

In Australia GPs were given a monetary "bonus" by the federal government for each child who was completely vaccinated by age 7. However I believe the scheme may have been stopped about 12 months ago.

ETA - there was no penalty for children not fully vaccinated, they just didn't get the bonus.

[chaoticzenmom]

Um, not getting a bonus is not the same as getting "fined" Sickening. Look up P4P benefits to dr's for vaccination.

I think dr's should reject these bonuses on principle. But, really, who's got principle anymore?

[EENS]

I don't know about being fined by the government but a formerly no vax practice in town started vaccinating because their insurance started exerting a lot of pressure on them.

[Marnica]

P4P (pay for performance) info
http://www.leapfroggroup.org/compendium_dt_home/4692933

[Noelle C.]

In a way, the doctor is right. Since doctors so often get bonuses for how many shots and such they give, if this doc doesn't get a bonus he feels entitled to, then he's going to see it as his money that was lost. A financial penalty to him.

This is WRONG.

Financial incentives shouldn't be allowed. You know, BRIBES.

[MyLilPwny]

My daughter's pediatrician is Dr. Pamela Middleton, M.D. located in Newport Beach, CA and Dr. Middleton is 100% anti-vaccines so she does all "well-baby" checkups without any vaccines, does not give any vaccines in her office because she is so against them, and has the book "The Sanctity of Human Blood: Vaccination I$ Not Immunization" in the patient waiting room for all to read. So unless she's just continuing her business and just eating the government's "fine" (highly doubt that)...I don't think its true for her. Looks like she's happily and peacefully continuing her non-vaccinating pediatric business.