Government To Use ‘Secret Shoppers’ to ‘Spy’ on Doctors
- Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:36am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Secret shoppers aren’t anything new. Retail stores use them regularly to gather customer service data. But what happens when the government uses them to check up on doctors across the country? Is that going too far? That‘s exactly what’s about to happen to over 4,000 doctors in nine states.
The New York Times reports that 4,185 doctors in Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia — 465 in each state — will be getting stealth calls from people posing as potential patients. The point is to see if doctors are discriminating against those with government care such as Medicare, and to decipher how long wait times are.
“Access to primary care is a priority for the administration,” Health and Human Services spokesman Christian J. Stenrud told the Times. “This study is an effort to better understand the problem and make sure we are doing everything we can to support primary care physicians, especially in communities where the need is greatest.”
But plenty of doctors don’t see this as a friendly phone call as much as a government encroachment. Or, worse, Big Brother.
“I don’t like the idea of the government snooping,” Dr. Raymond Scalettar, an internist in Washington, told the Times. “It’s a pernicious practice — Big Brother tactics, which should be opposed.”
And that seems to be the consensus of those physicians interviewed by the Times:
Dr. George J. Petruncio, a family doctor in Turnersville, N.J., said: “This is not a way to build trust in government. Why should I trust someone who does not correctly identify himself?”
Dr. Stephen C. Albrecht, a family doctor in Olympia, Wash., said: “If federal officials are worried about access to care, they could help us. They don’t have to spy on us.”
The Times obtained a mock script of what a mystery caller might say:
Mystery shopper: “Hi, my name is Alexis Jackson, and I’m calling to schedule the next available appointment with Dr. Michael Krane. I am a new patient with a P.P.O. from Aetna. I just moved to the area and don’t yet have a primary doctor, but I need to be seen as soon as possible.”
Doctor’s office: “What type of problem are you experiencing?”
Mystery shopper: “I’ve had a cough for the last two weeks, and now I’m running a fever. I’ve been coughing up thick greenish mucus that has some blood in it, and I’m a little short of breath.”
Most offices will get two calls, one pretending to be from someone with private insurance and one from someone pretending to have government care. Still other offices will get a third call from government officials who “will ask whether the doctors accept private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare, and whether they take ‘self-pay patients’” in an attempt to note any discrepancies.
The use of the secret callers comes as a Massachusetts Medical Society released a report last month showing a dismal trend in the state where government health care has taken root: 53 percent of family physicians and 51 percent of internal medicine physicians are not accepting new patients, and wait times are increasing, averaging 36 days to see family doctors and 48 days for internists.
“Is this a good use of tax money? Probably not,” Dr. Robert L. Hogue, a family physician in Brownwood, TX asked the Times. “Everybody with a brain knows we do not have enough doctors.”
Read the NY Times article here. Read the full Massachusetts Medical society report here.






















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Comments (186)
EqualJustice
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:36amOH, even better… secret doctors to spy on ILLEGALS getting free medical care!!!!
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:36amwell obummer said he created more jobs this year, will they start their oun union?
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:35amHow about SECRET gun buyers to SPY ON HOLDER??? hahahaha
Report Post »hempstead1944
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:31amAnyone else think this sounds a lot like the KGB of Russia?
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:30amWe need secret shoppers to spy on the people in government to see what they are doing. National follow a senator and congressman day.
Report Post »christianUSA
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:27amIsn’t that 101 basic socialist kgb spy on everyone so of course doctors too after all didn’t they already start in Obamacare?
Report Post »Thinking Man
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:26amClearly, Time Magazine was on to something when they asked if the constitution was still relevant. I don’t see the probable cause here?
Report Post »peglomb
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 10:27pmRead the current New York Times #1 Best Seller – “Original Argument” and you will be able to see what our Government is doing that our founders warned they would do without the CONSITUTION.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:24amRead the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, Time to remove them peacefully from power or by force and re-establish our constitutional government!!!
Report Post »hud
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:38amLine ‘em up on the steps of the capital, dumbocraps first, give ‘em a choice, flee or die
Report Post »Danola
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:14amThis is pure harassment. They are intimidating the medical industry to get them to give up. They are using the excuse of doctors and small medical businesses receiving govt money as an invitation to investigate, harass, and intimidate. They are targeting the small business owner/doctors and assorted other small medical businesses in order to get them to just give up. Then the government can move in, and employ government doctors and replace the small businesses, under Obamacare. I know of a med professional, small business owner that did not complete a form on time and is facing a 1.5 million dollar fine. Their only choice is bankruptcy. This is all intentional and well planned to destroy our country. And the democrats are responsible. May God react accordingly…
Report Post »JamesR
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:12amNo, we do not need to spy on doctors, we need to spy on the government idiots on an hourly basis!
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:09amIt won’t matter what they do. They have given out so many waivers that this stupidity will fail, utterly. The unions are all exempt, 1/2 the remaining people won‘t be paying into it because they’re deadbeats, and the rest of the working private sector will take up arms when they are expected to give up 70% of their earnings to support the slime who can’t arrange their lives so as to pay their own bills. The only question I have is how many decent people will this kill before it goes under like everything else democrats touch.
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:06amThis has nothing to do with concern for the patient. It is all about control and checking up on the doctors. Obama is determined to shove everything down our throats no matter what we think or feel. He is a control freak that has become an elected dictator.
Report Post »headbtweenlegs
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:02amThugs
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:01amThis means that the government will degrade, berate, embarass, harass, or prosecute any MD that no longer takes Medicare/Medicaid- Which happens to be nearly half of the good MD‘s where I’m from. They won’t take it because they will lose money.
Until MD’s are put in chains and made to goose step and salute Der Fuhrer, they are running a private business and can take or not take any insurance or currency they wish.
They had better get a move on with the States Obamacare law suit. You may be a spectator now that the government is cannibalizing medicine, but you won‘t be when you’re in the ER gushing blood with no MD in sight.
Report Post »Reality Shack
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:00amThis is just the first step to intimidate doctors. Pretty soon as they did with the oil and drug companies to make them the bad guys, they will attach the word “big” in front of doctor. Yes folks, “big doctor” is the problem in health care. But don’t worry Uncle Barry is here to put his boot on their throats. By God, he will put them in their place. Thanks you Uncle Barry for looking out for us.
Report Post »Ibinaround2
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 1:43pmDoctors are not God………..many have defrauded Medicare out of millions. You have a problem with detecting fraud?
Report Post »Cocheta
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 10:25pmHa! We doctors have been demonized for years! Tell me something new! This little escapade of Obama’s is just another gubmint showboat that will collect cherry-picked data that will “prove” that we are all greedy, racist rat bast**d homophobes who’s most delicious hobby is to find every possible way to cheat patients and the gubmint. Wanna know why a lot of primary care doctors and internists won’t take Medicare? Because they can’t keep their clinics open on the gubmint pittance they call reimbursements! Even seeing one patient every 5 to 6 minutes, it’s still hard to keep the lights on because you have to pay the nurses and office staff, cough up the monthly rent, pay the malpractice insurance, hire a billing company to squeeze the poop out of every gubmint buffalo nickel and try to bring home enough money to take care of the family and pay off the mountain of med school student loans. And you wonder why primary care physicians are bailing out of medicine altogether or becoming hospitalists… All you folks out there who wish for a single payer system better be careful… you might have the terrible misfortune of getting it.
Report Post »dadsrootbeer
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:59amAnd Obammycare keeps rolling on. More control costing more money while freedom and individual rights slowly die. It’s the progressive way.
Report Post »louise
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:56amThis does not surprise me. I would not be surprised to find out that the government uses spying techniques whenever and wherever they can….. Including spying on what people say on the internet.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:39amI wish I had an answer, but ask yourself why they announced ‘secret shoppers’. Usually, this kind of thing is stealth. Imagine how well recent ‘planned parenthood’ and ‘acorn’ reports would have gone had they announced them in advance.
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:54amI know that I have been hard on “ police tactics ” but this is why …where does it stop ? if this is now the “ law ” of the land …what tactics can be used agianst any of us ? The question is ……Can Man rule himself ? Or does someone rule us ? ….
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:04amthe blaze cenorsed me …just great I said “I have been hard on the police tactics … ” geez
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:05am“ highly critcal” ..man I didnt even use a swear word ..I dont get it
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:11amhighly critical …get it together blaze ..why you censoring that ?
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:28am((they thought it was a descriptive name for a female body part after smoking a bong))
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 9:24am@Texas Grasshopper
That sort of censorship also occurred on one of my posts on another article once. After I typed the word “snatch,” when my post appeared, I found the word replaced with asterisks. It seems that the Blaze is undergoing a censoring problem for some reason.
Report Post »HUGHS500
Posted on June 28, 2011 at 3:20amWhat word did you use? You can w-r-i-t-e <<<like that. What was it?
Report Post »TruthisHealthy
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:51amthe United States of America is quickly becoming a communist, marxist state.
the balless bitches and bastards in power sold their souls AND US to satan long ago.
i hope they all rot in hell.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:27amThe US government is trying to help the citizens save money using tried & true conservative techniques learned by Andrew Breitbart, Fox News, Wal-Mart and McDonalds.
((they are saving you money by using the most effective entrapment methods to uncover illegal greed in the 16% a year cost growth Medical sector))
Report Post »NJTMATO
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 9:20am@Monicne
“The US government is trying to help the citizens save money using tried & true conservative techniques learned by Andrew Breitbart, Fox News, Wal-Mart and McDonalds. ”
You don’t seem to understand that it is THE GOVERNMENT we are talking about here! Your posts on this site do not indicate that you are completely stupid, just that you are a leftist (which in my opinion is stupid anyway, but you do have a right to your opinion) My problem with this issue is that “He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.” This is JUST ONE of the Facts submitted in Congress on July 4, 1776 for the Declaration of Independence. This president and administration continuously spit in the face of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence which means he/they are spitting on US. Do you ACTUALLY BELIEVE that the Government is doing this FOR US?? Have you not noticed that EVERY TIME the government is involved in ANYTHING even remotely intricate that all it does is take time and money from the taxpayer with little in return. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!! It is Taking power from us …when the government’s power is supposed to be derived from our consent…NOT their decision. DISGUSTING.
Report Post »hypnos
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 10:07am@monicne how does this help prevent fraud.if the care is not an emergency and the physician is not on call he does not have to take a new patient.
Report Post »Ibinaround2
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 1:46pmMonicine, apparently Jeff Foxworthy is right about what you can’t fix…….
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:51amCassy Susteen seems to be working overtime
Report Post »nudge nudge nudge
GulfPeg
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:21amObama and his administration are TYRANTS!
Report Post »Ashley
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:36amBig Brother is working overtime . . . Nudge, Push, Shove, . . .
Report Post »TeaForMe
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:50amIf only the government would pay as much attention to the way their own policies have overwhelmed and harmed our health care system!
These results will be used by the Obamunists to exert even greater control over our health care (not good for doctors or patients) and demonize doctors for political gain.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:42amWe learned to do this from “way-successful Conservatives.” When sued, the SCOTUS agreed with the secret observers that Corporate profits are more important than personal freedoms, as long as the “sting” is conducted randomly, without prejudice. .
Report Post »randy
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:45amWe don’t live in the USA anymore People!
This is wrong on so many levels.
Report Post »darwin-t
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:45amA couple of things leap to mind.
So once the doctor’s office says “Okay, let’s set up an appointment”, what is the mystery caller going to do? Make scratching noises, say there cell phone connection is breaking up and hang up?
The million dollar question is “What are they going to do with the results?” My guess is they will want to pass a law requiring that doctors take Medicaid patients. It wouldn’t be that big of a leap. Did you know that it is illegal for a doctor to treat ANY patient for free if they take ANY Medicaid (and possibly Medicare) patients?
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:40am.
Report Post »Government To Use ‘Secret Shoppers’ , I saw one eating Fries & Fat Cakes the other day.
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:38am.
Report Post »What info are they going to collect? Which Doctor has Big Fingers and the Shakes….
grandmaof5
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:45amThat leaves anything open for Breitbart to secretly investigate if our tax dollars are paying for the government to do it. At least with Breitbart you know you are getting something or somebody illegally doing something. Not so much with the government.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:51amAnother reason there will be a physician shortage in the coming years. Who would want to put up with all the government BS. But I suspect it all part of their plan.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
Cobra Blue
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:04amWe are just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Move on. Healthcare is gone in this country. No need to waste words and typing skills talking about this. Why so negative Cobra? Because there is no one on the horizon with the CONVICTION and BALLS (that also includes the American people) to fight this the way it should be done. At all cost SO HELP ME GOD. That’s why.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:07am“This study is an effort to better understand the problem and make sure we are doing everything we can to support primary care physicians, especially in communities where the need is greatest.”
Report Post »————–
Remember what Pres Reagan said: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”
Obama Bin Lying
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:14amMore Big Brother watching. All they are going to find out is what we already knew. ObamaScare is not goint ot work, it is going to do everything he said it wouldn’t do, and itis just going to cost us another trillion we can’t afford.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:21am“If they aren’t doing anything wrong, they have nothing to fear;” right Brietbart fans and supporters?
Report Post »jkendal
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:21amIf you think this is at all Constitutional then you’re an idiot…..
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:26amI would tend to believe one reason the Physicians may not be as excited to accept Medicare and Medicaid patients, is sometimes now the Government is paying 17cents on the Dollar. It cost way more than that to file the papers and you don’t just have to file them once usually because the Gov. doesn’t pay the first time. It is ridiculous. Sorry but I am on the Doctors side in this case. The Goverment should take the money they are going to spend on “Secret Shoppers” and hire people that know how to process the forms and Obamacare “has” to pay more to the Drs. Repeal Obamacare as soon as possible.
Report Post »Sound The Trumpet In Zion
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:30am@SpankDaMonkey
Report Post »“What info are they going to collect? Which Doctor has Big Fingers and the Shakes”
It doesn’t matter what kind of info they collect, we all know that they will use people from groups like planned parenthood and whatever name ACORN is using now, as well as plenty of liberal wackos that would jump at this chance. They could call up and ask them what days they are off and then make a complaint that because they are on welfare, the doctor refused to see them on that day. Whatever they come up, I’m sure will be falsified to attack doctors so they can try to make it easier to try and shove down our throats obamacare and whatever else they have on their liberal agenda.
blue_collar_man
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:31amSpank, how about how they voted last election. The AMA has been feeding the beast a long time. What did they expect? Hippocratic oath=hypocritical oath.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:31amWhen they find it’s discrimination, opposite of what they are looking for, what will they do?
Report Post »Nothing.
When I spent two months in the hospital and rehab, it was the black nurses and foreign doctors who treated me like a leper. I feel sorry for the old folks who don’t have the where-with-all to argue back. I almost got some medicine that would have killed me, had I not argued that I wasn’t supposed to take it.
MONICNE
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:37amThey are also going to give $5.00 Starbucks Cards if they find exceptional service techniques, or remarkable services.
And; there is also a reality show planned, called, “CO-PAY As You GO,” where the contestants are each given $1,000.00 and then compete to get the best transplant surgery for their money, by bargaining with the medical providers with home grown produce, livestock, personal services, prior investment capital, personal estates and property. Current record: (LLKL) consisting of lungs, liver and (one) kidney, with free lipo tossed in.
Report Post »Whitey4West
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:47amWelcome to O’bummercare
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:52am.
Report Post »Ya’ll ever watch Whale Wars? Well those folks are willing to DIE to save a whale. And I am afraid there are not enough Old School Americans with the same commitment to save this country from the Democrats and their Muslim buddies. They are willing to kill all of us for their cause…..
Citizen7154
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:53amI have a feeling this is going to backfire on the administration.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 8:53amBlack suits and Swasticas for everyone! The forming of the Gestapo for sure….He did promise a civilian army as strong as our military…Here it comes.
Report Post »cripplecreek
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 9:01amThis is pathetic. I have PHP and some doctors take it and some don’t.
Report Post »Big whoop.
Mr. Oshawott
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 9:12am(sarcastically) ObamaCare at it’s finest. We are SO DOOMED! MAY GOD HELP US ALL.
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 9:46amBIG BROTHER OVERSEEING OUR DOCTORS?
There is a report from the UK that the Obama Administration is keeping tabs on what Doctors are doing, but what about what they are saying as well. Will he get so much into this that they will start going after doctors that are political. Look at AARP, they sided with Obama and got huge help from the administration; what about the unions all getting waivers, what lengths will he go to.
And they pushed ObamaCare over jobs when America was suffering, then to save their butts came out and lied saying ObamaCare would save 400,000 immediately: http://tiny.cc/usbtu – B.S.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 9:48amCrank call them with a bunch of stupid invasive questions then hang up so they blame the Gov’t.
Report Post »hypnos
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 10:04amHey monicne, their motives are not pure. The government knows there system is crap and they trying to deflect attention and reduce costs by gorilla tactics. This has nothing to do with making healthcare better. This a subjective witch hunt.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 10:53amMomma always said, “You sleep with dogs, you’re gonna get fleas.”
Overall, doctors didn’t fight obamacare. Instead, the AMA ENDORSED it!
I know only a small % of doctors join the AMA – but – overall, they didn’t oppose it.
Now, they are going to get what we warned them about.
They are going to get big brother looking over their shoulder at every turn.
This is just the BEGINNING, too.
When this country is be literally DESTROYED by entitlement programs, we create YET ANOTHER entitlement program.
yeah. great idea, obummer.
REPEAL THIS OBOMINATION !!!
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 11:17amOne more freaking waste of taxpayer money. People that already go to these doctors offices look closely at what they do and don’t do. No need for a taxpayer funded investigation. More treadmill shrimp money wasted.
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 11:40amIs this even legal?
Report Post »Ibinaround2
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 1:39pmMMm, how many doctors have been convicted of Medicare fraud? THAT would be a good reason to “doctor shop” around to perhaps find those that are.
BTW, Rush knows a thing or two about doctor shopping……
Report Post »ISRAELISOURFRIEND
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 2:56pmThis is so big government can find Liberal doctors to support and crush the conservatives.
Another great deception, just bringing it closer to home.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 3:01pmPlease, private insurance companies do this stuff all the time. It’s called looking out for the best interest of their customers. If physicians have a problem with Medicare making sure their recipients are being treated well and actually receiving the care Medicare was billed for, they should opt out of the program.
Report Post »TheGeneral
Posted on June 29, 2011 at 6:01amDeep sympathy USA.
Here in UK, coz were in the EUssr, we have to accept Doctors from anywhere in the EUssr, even if they are crapola, as we are ( or our weak governments who have handed power to the eussr) not allowed to check or challenge their qualifications or skills.
One guy (at least) has died because of an incompetent German doc ( of African origin) who gave wrong dose due to being bad in English & over worked, as he was flyin in & out of UK to act as support doc.
Yet we cannot overturn these stupid rules about no discrimination against any person from an EU ssr ( commie outfit) member state.
Bad, real bad.
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