For those of you deluded that there are few disparities in health care in the USA, and I am not referring to the gap between insured and uninsured, it is worth mentioning the regional differences in medical practice across the country for those that are insured.
A recent WSJ blog nicely highlights the differences in surgical treatment for back pain among Medicare recipients based on zip code. Regional differences in practice exists and these may be due to how area physicians were trained, number of specialists, and financial incentives.
More care may not necessarily translate into a better outcome. This topic is nicely explored in Shannon Brownlee's book, Overtreated, required reading in my Public Health Seminar.
