Between 1970 and 1991, for example, the number of medical physicians increased by 89.6 percent, the number of osteopathic physicians increased by 129.9 percent, the number of podiatrists increased by 76 percent, and the number of registered nurses increased by 134.5 percent. Although the number of health care professionals has increased, the pool of money available to pay these professionals is destined to decrease even as the health care needs of baby boomers increase. Cost containment will shrink the affluent health care system to which we are accustomed. Cost containment is also causing providers to band together, willingly or unwillingly. More health care providers than ever are operated in the corporate form.
Younger physicians are more willing to work for a corporate health care provider.
Whereas almost all physicians with more than 30 years experience are self-employed, this is true for only 60 percent of those in practice five years or less. As a result, national health care corporations are sprouting up and purchasing hospitals and nursing homes, which traditionally have been owned by small groups of individuals. The managers and administrators of these corporations are a new cadre of health care professionals who are shifting the focus in health care from service to profitability. With these changes, medicine is becoming more of a business than profession. Fraud will flourish in such an environment.