Going along with what a couple people have already posted..

I would like to know what guidelines LA Care puts on its physicians in terms of what procedures they should be doing. Are physicians directed to try more cost-effective measures first to try to solve a problem before moving to more expensive procedures, even if the more expensive procedures have a statistically-better chance of solving the problem in the first go-round? Are there any financial incentives for the physicians to use cost-effective methods/procedures? Also, since physicians are most likely salaried, what are their (financial) incentives to providing better care?