A medical tourism primer for U.S. physicians.

As healthcare in the United States has been changing rapidly over the past few decades, so has the manner in which healthcare has been provided, billed, and paid for. There is an increasing need for Americans to reach beyond domestic borders to the international community for certain medical procedures, treatment, and care at more affordable costs. This impacts not only consumers and their physicians, but also employers, benefit plan payors, administrators, and other industry stakeholders-including America's hospitals. This article provides a framework for discussion points for physician-patient communications regarding medical tourism.