From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Medicare costs and your doctor bills.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Last week's massive release of Medicare data shows that some doctors get millions of taxpayer dollars more

than other doctors for similar treatments. A few were already under indictment for fraud,

but others have explanations. We'll talk about that with the president of the American Medical

Association.

The AMA helps set prices for Medicare, which then becomes standard for all procedures.

Does the system encourage doctors to enrich themselves?

What have the data revealed about pharmaceutical companies?

Can they inflate prices under the cover of law?

Today's talking point, the latest diplomatic flap with Iran.

First, here's the news.

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Hello again, Mormon-Aulny, back with To The Point.

Last week's massive release of Medicare data reveals more than which doctors collect the most government money.

It also shows that the American Medical Association helps set prices for doctors' services in a system protected by federal law. Today's talking

point, the U.S. is refusing a visa to Iran's nominee as ambassador to the United Nations. Does

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