Doctors Fear for Medicine’s Future

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According to the Harvard School of Public Health, 40 percent of medical malpractice suits filed are “without merit.” Yet despite the frivolous nature of many suits, juries often award millions to plaintiffs — and their trial lawyers. These predatory suits amount to legalized extortion and require doctors to carry malpractice insurance at great expense. A Department of Health and Human Services study found that unlimited excessive damages add between $70 billion and $126 billion annually to health-care costs. Trial lawyers are staunch Democrat supporters.

Many of the physicians point out that the huge expansion of Medicaid enrollees (estimated at 30 million) called for under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “is likely to backfire.” Almost half of the doctors (49 percent) said they will stop accepting Medicaid payments.

“More patient involvement” was ranked as a “most important” factor by 68 percent of the docs—just behind reducing government regulations and mandates.

Having health insurance–as required under the Affordable Care Act (upheld by the Supreme Court) means nothing if there aren’t doctors to care for us. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) estimates a shortage of 63,000 doctors by 2015 and 91,500 by 2020 and 130,600 by 2025. The new survey indicates such estimates may well minimize an ominous future shortage.

“Hands down,” the medical Foundation said in its report, “doctors blame government involvement in medicine for the current problems in medicine, and they are not shy to say they want it out. Two out of three doctors ranks government as the top reason.”

A Kentucky anesthesiologist complains “As regulations have increased there has been a direct impact on the cost of care increasing.” But as a family practitioner in Washington State wrote: “I want to focus on what is best for my patients, not what a government official deems cost effective.” Another Washington State physician, in an explosive response said, “The federal government needs to get the HELL out of the practice of medicine.”

Enormous cost of “setting up the infrastructure, complexity of payment, unclear regulations, delayed payments, extreme government involvement, need to hire specialists in Information Technology (IT), and database management, quality control, customer service, compliance, finance administration, and physician networking and following rules often set by non-medical personnel” face the nation’s medical system, the Foundation concluded.

In the desperate words of a Florida neurologist: “American healthcare is finished.”

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  • Spider

    This is just another reminder of the tragic mistake that is Obama.

  • Herbster

    I live in a suburb of a major Texas city. I've been calling around to find a new primary care physician. My questions for the doctor's office are, does the Dr. accept my insurance? Is the Dr. accepting new patients? etc.

    Most did accept my insurance, however, I received an answer from more than a few offices in reference to "New patients." The answer9s0 was as follows: "Yes, the doctor is accepting new patients, BUT, no one over the age of 60." Thank you, Mr. obambi. Questiion: If obamascamcare is so wonderful, why is congress "Exempt." They'll keep their own (Paid for by us) plans. And of course, muslims are exempt. WAKE UP and see your freedoms being eliminated. I'd write more, but there is a drone peering in my window…….

  • al222

    Americans are going to learn a terrible lesson: have health care insurance IS NOT the same as having health care itself

  • aleric_kong

    "I would be willing to do charity care weekly for the poor and uninsured if there was tort reform"

    Exactly what's wrong with federal intrusion into healthcare today:
    Fat Jerry Nadler comes in with back strain
    Doctor prescribes Ibruprofen
    Fatso's lap band breaks and fatso dies of a heart attack
    John Edwards performs a seance in front of a civil jury and takes the doctor's home and office
    Malpractice insurance premiums goes up $100,000 a year
    NBC and Showtime hire leftist writers who create drug addicts and homosexuals who dialogue about China and Cuba having better healthcare than the US.

  • clarespark

    I have two guest blogs from an Emergency Room doctor James Pagano, who has spelled out the consequences for emergency care if Obamacare stands. See http://clarespark.com/2012/07/09/james-pagano-m-d….

  • PaulRevereNow

    Obamacare is just plain disgusting. Read pages 15-17 of Edward Klein's book, "The Amateur." On these pages, Klein mentions Obama's personal physician of 22 years, Dr. David Sheiner.(I believe that's how he spells his name) Dr Sheiner rips into Obamacare, stating to the effect that the PPACA is a terrible plan; partly because it has no cost control mechanism. Obama obviously believes Americans don't deserve much, except maybe a tent on the prairie to live in, and a place to die. And he probably wouldn't be upset if most older Americans keeled over, and expired, without a whimper. GOD SAVE US if he is elected again.

    • johnsnare

      Obama care,is a Socialist dream come true. The government will tell us who should live, and who shall die. Death panels. This sounds like the age of Hitler reborn. Our Government, and Mr.Obama, know best. When the hell did the U>S> government do anything right.? Get this guy out of here. All those Obama supporters, who want the free stuff, should remember the old saying: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Buyer beware.

  • PaulRevereNow

    ,,,and by the way, Dr. Sheiner is a left-leaning Democrat.

  • wsg

    If Obamacare is not repealed we will see a mass exodus of Docs. Those that do enter medicine we be less than the brightest and best because they will be willing slaves to the state. EVERY healthcare decision will be political. What was routine treatment now will become life and death and with that power who will oppose the state ? FREEDOM as we know it WILL VANISH !!

  • http://www.facebook.com/mike.villano.71 Mike Villano

    If the press corps wasn't a collection of false prophets, the public might have a chance to know that this legislative regulatory pile of trash will definitely drive doctors out of business or underground and get people killed.
    When that happens, you can count on the same false prophets to blame ANYTHING OTHER THAN their precious Obamacare.

  • Anamah

    For the first time in my entire adult life… I am scare to death, facing the last stage of my disease… in coincidence with these abussive politicians ruining our country.

  • Jim

    A MD I talked to said many other MDs he knew were just going to stop practicing medicine.

    I suggested they move to Canada and their American patients would follow. (Yes long trip)
    Or they could move to Mexico.

    We expect a Republican congress would be willing to modify Obama Care.

  • http://tarandfeathersusa.wordpress.com/ Iratus Vulgas

    I'm reminded of the Left's spurious claim that health care is a right. What happens when doctors refuse to continue practicing medicine? Are they then violating the civil rights of those who require medical attention? Will doctors have to be "drafted" into medical service? Sounds crazy perhaps, but totalitarian laws always sound over the top until they're implemented.

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  • doctorhelp01

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