UC Irvine

This research is based upon demographic data on physicians who appeared on the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) List of Excluded Individuals and Entities for the years 2008 to 2013. Demographic information on the 1,289 excluded physicians during this period were collected from public data sources. Males, older physicians, international medical graduates and primary care doctors were overrepresented amongst excluded physicians. Females, younger physicians, United States medical graduates, board certified physicians and secondary and Tertiary care doctors were underrepresented amongst excluded physicians. Possible reasons for why these groups were overrepresented or underrepresented are discussed in the dissertation. It is argued that this demographic portrait of excluded physicians is shaped by the interplay between the individual behaviors of doctors and the activities of regulatory personnel. Female physicians were more likely to be excluded for a financial offense (FO), while male doctors were more likely to be excluded for a quality of care matter (QOC). Board certified physicians were more likely to be excluded for a QOC matter, while non-certified doctors were more likely excluded for a FO. Explanations for these findings are discussed in the dissertation.