Final answer:
The most common method of payment for doctors in the U.S. is the fee-for-service model, where doctors are paid for each procedure or test, but there's a growing shift towards a blend of managed care and fee-for-service models. So, the correct option is d. Doctors are paid for each procedure or test performed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common arrangement for paying medical doctors in the United States is on a fee-for-service basis. This system means that doctors receive fees for each service they perform, creating an incentive to provide more services, which could include additional tests or scans that may not be necessary. However, the healthcare landscape is evolving, and there has been a shift towards an emphasis on health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
In HMOs, medical care providers receive a fixed amount per person enrolled in the plan, regardless of how many services they provide, fostering an incentive to manage care efficiently. Today, many doctors are compensated through a combination of managed care and fee-for-service, which includes a flat rate per patient with additional payments for the treatment of specific health conditions. Given this information, the correct answer to the question of the most common method for paying doctors in the United States is option d. Doctors are paid for each procedure or test performed.