You claimed torts were the cause -- I'm claiming they're the excuse, and the $2k bill is the cause. $2k in guaranteed cash is a stronger incentive than the very remote chance of a lawsuit over sleep apnea. Even if the latter does exist in some small number and can be blamed.
1) The pulmonary specialist who ordered the sleep study does not get $2k, the sleep study guy does. Why would the pulmonary specialist care about enriching the sleep study guys?
2) Humans respond disproportionately to low probability, high cost events. Witness the reaction to "XXX causes cancer", the DC sniper, 9/11, or similar rare events.
So yeah, I'd say fear of lawsuits is a better explanation than the desire to make somebody else $2000 richer.
The pulmonary specialist who ordered the sleep study does not get $2k, the sleep study guy does. Why would the pulmonary specialist care about enriching the sleep study guys?
So, you're 100% certain that the pulmonary specialist is not an owner or an investor at the sleep study facility?
In reality, it is quite common for doctors to own or invest in facilities to which they refer their own patients.
Go read that Times magazine article about the most expensive town in America for health care.
Average health in the town, nothing special about it except the fact that they bill twice as much. They're sending each other referrals like crazy. It's in Texas, so I'm guessing their medical malpractice costs are not above average.
