It sets a national goal for spending, with "no incentive for individual physicians to control the volume of services" they provide, he said.

"It's up to the individual physician to make a decision."

But the reporting programs, while mandatory, would not disclose the names of individual physicians or patients.

Many individual physicians have bought personal computers, if only to aid their staff in pursuing reimbursement from insurers and Medicare.

"I was wondering if you keep track of the prescribing habits of individual physicians."

Such guidelines could be used by peer review panels to keep an eye on individual physicians.

Both figures are based on the individual physician's billings for tests and services; seniority has no bearing.

It's harder to imagine such cooperation among individual physicians engaged in traditional fee-for-service practices.

But the report from the panel, the Institute of Medicine committee did not criticize individual physicians.

"The doctors say they're doing a good job, but when you break the numbers down to individual physicians, it's not always easy to see that."