Three-quarters of emergency physicians say they've seen ER patient visits surge since Obamacare took effect — just the opposite of what many Americans expected would happen.
A poll released today by the American College of Emergency Physicians shows that 28% of 2,099 doctors surveyed nationally saw large increases in volume, while 47% saw slight increases. By contrast, fewer than half of doctors reported any increases last year in the early days of the Affordable Care Act.
Such hikes run counter to one of the goals of the health care overhaul, which is to reduce pressure on emergency rooms by getting more people insured through Medicaid or subsidized private coverage and providing better access to primary care.
A major reason that hasn't happened is there simply aren't enough primary care physicians to handle all the newly insured patients, says ACEP President Mike Gerardi, an emergency physician in New Jersey.
"They don't have anywhere to go but the emergency room," he says. "This is what we predicted. We know people come because they have to."
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Not all 100% True. There is certain people that their health insurance is all "free". Because they aren't held accountable and WILL NEVER get a bill as they have Medicaid, they can abuse the ER. They go to the ER for very minor issues that aren't "emergency room" diagnosis. For example, scratches, cold, etc...or even making up symptoms to get a work note!! Bill paid at 100% from Taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteThat's because of the deductibles. I know someone who had to get new insurance because their's wasn't grandfathered and their deductible went from 1200 to 9000. They are lucky in that they can afford it but most can't esp if you are still trying to raise a family. They did say it will keep them from spending the money in other ways which isn't a help to the economy.
ReplyDeleteA lot is because they can't afford the high deductibles and hold off seeing the doctor until the conditions worsens and they can't get in to see a GP.
ReplyDeleteContrary to goals my ass. The collapse of our health care system was the sole purpose of obamacare.
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