{
  "id": 11413240,
  "title": "The insidious, fascinating, and utterly infuriating reason that women’s health care is worse than men’s",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/the-insidious-fascinating-and-utterly-infuriating-reason-that-womens",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-02T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Vox",
    "slug": "vox",
    "url": "https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/504071/medical-billing-womens-health-outcomes"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2021, gynecologic surgeon Dr. Louise King and bioethics professor Katie L. Watson discussed a troubling phenomenon they both observed: female surgeons earn less than their male counterparts, even when factors like specialty, rank, and age are taken into account. This pay gap was particularly pronounced in King's field of gynecologic surgery, where surgeons who perform female-specific procedures were paid less than those who performed comparable surgeries for males. Watson described this as \"double discrimination,\" as the lower pay stemmed from both the female-focused specialty and the predominantly female patient population.\n\nThe pay disparity has remained relatively unchanged for the past two decades. Procedure valuations are largely determined by a committee of doctors using self-reported data, which has often been inaccurate. This pay gap can lead to fewer resources being allocated to women's health care, resulting in worse outcomes for patients. Experts suggest addressing the issue by reevaluating the valuation of gynecologic surgeries and removing sex-specific billing codes.\n\nIn 1997, a group of gynecologic surgeons published a study titled \"Is Adam worth more than Eve?\" which highlighted the discrepancy in pay for male- and female-specific procedures. Despite this, the problem has persisted, becoming institutionalized in the billing and reimbursement systems that determine how surgeons are paid. Gynecologic procedures are often reimbursed at lower rates than male-specific procedures, even when they require similar time and skill.\n\nThe consequences of this inequality extend beyond individual doctors' compensation. Hospitals that receive fewer resources for women's health services may offer poorer care to their patients and provide fewer training opportunities for surgeons specializing in women's health. However, this longstanding inequality is not inevitable. Healthcare billing practices can change over time, and recent efforts to restructure maternity care reimbursement may eventually address disparities in gynecologic surgery. While a comprehensive solution requires concerted efforts, experts have outlined steps to begin addressing the issue, such as reconsidering how surgical procedures are valued and eliminating sex-specific billing codes.",
  "summary": "In the moody alcoves of a lobby bar in Chicago in 2021 over French 75s, Dr. Louise King, a gynecologic surgeon, and Katie L. Watson, a bioethics professor, found themselves in conversation about a topic that had long frustrated them both: Female surgeons are consistently underpaid compared to male surgeons, even after accounting for specialty, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}