Nearly one-third of all practicing physicians may leave the medical profession if President Obama signs current versions of health-care reform legislation into law, according to a survey published in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
The survey, which was conducted by the Medicus Firm, a leading physician search and consulting firm based in Atlanta and Dallas, found that a majority of physicians said health-care reform would cause the quality of American medical care to “deteriorate” and it could be the “final straw” that sends a sizeable number of doctors out of medicine.
More than 29 percent (29.2) percent of the nearly 1,200 doctors who responded to the survey said they would quit the profession or retire early if health reform legislation becomes law. If a public option were included in the legislation, as several liberal Senators have indicated they would like, the number would jump to 45.7 percent.
The medical journal published the results in its March and April edition, saying: “While a sudden loss of half of the nations physicians seems unlikely, a very dramatic decrease in the physician workforce could become a reality as an unexpected side effect of health reform.”
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[Editor's note: It already takes me 3 months to get an appointment for a physical with my Primary.. and this monstrosity hasn't even passed yet.]
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
6 comments:
Really? I dare them too. Don't write checks you can't cash boys. In the words of Joe, BE A MAN!!!!!! If Obama signs and you do not quit, then you are pathetic and a waste of all of our time.
Also, every time I call my primary (or my kids) we get in that day or the next. Where do these "I-can't-get-in-to-see-my-doctor" people live?
Really? Then they must of not really wanted to be a doctor in the first place only got into it for the money, let 'em leave if thats the case
I'm sure they are ready to jump right into the unemployment line with the other 9% of the work force
They're probably the same doctors who have enjoyed the over billing revenues from Medicare for a long time!
There are a number of them here on the Shore.
My mother in law is victim to it every time she goes to the doctor but we've notified Medicare and they are now not paying all those charges.
In fact, when she was in the hospital awhile back, one doctor billed over $1500.00 to Medicare but she never saw this doctor ONE time in her 4 day stay. We notified Medicare and they paid for ONE visit - $80.00.
THIS is one of the largest problems with healthcare in this country...the doctors!
#2 is the insurance companies!
This plan or any other plan is NOT a good plan unless they take care of those two problems FIRST!
I hope this does not pass!
The previous comments obviously are from quite ignorant individuals when it comes to the business of health care. They are likely the same people who expect everything for little to nothing in return. I have news for you, health care is not a right, it is a good. A good is a product or service that you have to pay for. What do you expect from a doctor that spent 15+ years learning everything possible about the human body at the personal cost of $200,000 on average? Do you expect them relinquish such hard earned knowledge and skill to you for free? What did you do to deserve such treatment? What did you sacrifice? These doctors especially primary care doctors have been getting screwed by insurance companies, the government, lawyers and patients like yourself for decades. They are grossly underpaid for the service they perform. I guarantee that you and most people have no clue what the financial obligations are to run a quality medical practice. I suspect you, like most people, have no idea what the yearly income is for the average primary care doctor. Most of these physicians would love to make the amount of money you and others wrongfully suspect they bring home. Health care reform is needed however we do not need this piece of garbage that they are going to shove down our throats. The large majority of physicians are caring and honest people. They have dedicated their life to taking care of people like you and do so with sacrifices that most people would not be willing to undertake. However, the economic reality is that Primary Care Physicians cannot take additional cuts in reimbursement and maintain a viable practice without significantly reducing the quality of care. In light of this fact, the good physicians would rather quit then provide substandard care. Once the Obama Health Care bill becomes law, sooner or later you or a loved one will require the attention and skill of the very doctors you verbally disrespect. When that day comes I bet that you quickly change your self-righteous tune.
2:30, I laid my comment out very clearly in my post about the charges incurred by Medicare for my mother in law's care.
You should not be able to bill for something you didn't do, period!
You appear to be a doctor based on your post and to be honest, you sound like you could be the very same doctor who did this to her.
For doctors to say they don't make money is pure BS!
When you become a doctor, you do it to HELP people, not to become rich, don't you?
I'm not against doctors making money, I'm not against doctors making good money but I certainly AM against them ripping off the people they pledged to help!
As far as the hospitals? Who's idea was it to turn hospitals into private financial money making institutions? THAT is the problem THERE!
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