According to a new study released Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, children across the country — even those covered by health insurance — receive less than half of the health care measures that pediatricians recommend.

In other news, car mechanics found deficiencies in the ways in which people "maintain" their cars, and hair stylists have big problems with the lack of attention most people give to their hair.

I'm not trying to be silly here and childrens' health care is a serious matter, but when you ask a professional group if the average person is spending enough time and attention on their specific industry, you are going to get a resounding "no!" Then there is the obvious conflict of interest insofar as professional groups might want to scare/encourage people to purchase more of their product.

Are there problems in health care? You bet. Might this study be timed to have an impact on the SCHIP debate? I'd say that is likely. 

Although the study doesn't discuss alot of specific ways in which the incentives in the health care system can be improved, one way to start might be to restore the doctor-patient bonds and get people back into the habit of making health care decisions for themselves and their children.