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The Medicare For All thread was closed by the moderator in the Medicare forum for being too political (and before I posted to it) so I would like to open this particular issue with Medicare for All in the Politics and Other Controversies forum.
Most of the discussion on Medicare For All is around how it will be paid for but I have a different question.
Are there enough doctors to go around for Medicare for All? Think about it: medicaid people, millions of illegals in the US, people here legally on visas, and everyone currently on Obamacare and employer insurance plus the elderly already on Medicare. And if you think there won't be enough doctors (I don't), who do you think would be shuffled off to Nurse Practitioners? I think it will be the elderly, the group that gets Medicare, now.
The next time you go to your doctor, ask them if they think there are enough doctors to go around for Medicare For All and let us know what they say.
One might perceive a reason to oppose a "Medicare for all" scheme is that if everyone has equal access to healthcare, there would not be enough doctors to address the demand. Does this then mean that the healthcare of the majority depends on denying healthcare to people who cannot or choose not to afford it?
This has nothing to do with a " Medicare for all" scheme.
Some areas of the US have and will continue to experience shortages of doctors, especially in some specialties. Some US areas of the US have and will continue to face the challenges associated with a lack of a nearby hospital because their actual and/or declining populations are not adequate to sustain a hospital. The people in those communities tend to expect their state and Federal Government to " do something".
People in remote rural areas in all countries with Universal Healthcare do not have equal access to healthcare. Some countries are working on it and for some other countries, it is just the way it is.
we see too many Doctors too often. I have a number of chronic conditions such that i have 4 Doctors who wish to see me every 3 months, including Blood Work. All they do is look at my blood work, see that everything is at a maintenance level and send me home. There is no reason why if my numbers are good i should have to show up. Doctors could look at labs see nothing changed and not call you in unless you have a NEW ISSUE to discuss. Heck there is no reason a computer program could not be programed for personalized criteria set by my Doctors and checked automatically if my labs come back in range. From talking to many others this type of do nothing visit is pretty common if you suffer from chronic conditions. Of course this could effect what could be Billed, hmm wonder if this has anything to do with it?
I can relate to what you are saying and I agree with you. Why does one have to go to the doctor just to get the results of their blood tests when it's already been determined that they are normal? It's all about money. They make nothing by calling you and saying that everything is ok. They make their money by making you come into the office to tell you and charge you for an office visit. Ending this foolishness would free up appts. for others.
There is no shortage of doctors but there is a shortage who are willing to work for what Medicare pays. Ie, if all doctors could be paid is the current Medicare reimbursements, then no...why would doctors want to work for half price?
Its the same issue as illegal migrant farmworker labor....its just a total LIE that Americans don't want to work as pickers. Its that there is a shortage of Americans wiling to sacrifice their health and dignity for the same wages as the illegals will accept.
Because Americans are not peasant farmers, which is what illegals mostly are - desperately poor and uneducated people for whom even subsistence level existence in the US is a huge gain in their living standards compared to their LATAM country of origin.
we see too many Doctors too often. I have a number of chronic conditions such that i have 4 Doctors who wish to see me every 3 months, including Blood Work. All they do is look at my blood work, see that everything is at a maintenance level and send me home. There is no reason why if my numbers are good i should have to show up. Doctors could look at labs see nothing changed and not call you in unless you have a NEW ISSUE to discuss. Heck there is no reason a computer program could not be programed for personalized criteria set by my Doctors and checked automatically if my labs come back in range. From talking to many others this type of do nothing visit is pretty common if you suffer from chronic conditions. Of course this could effect what could be Billed, hmm wonder if this has anything to do with it?
If you have the whole industry that's set to make money off your health issues, guess how it's going to operate and on what premises?
The Medicare For All thread was closed by the moderator in the Medicare forum for being too political (and before I posted to it) so I would like to open this particular issue with Medicare for All in the Politics and Other Controversies forum.
Most of the discussion on Medicare For All is around how it will be paid for but I have a different question.
Are there enough doctors to go around for Medicare for All? Think about it: medicaid people, millions of illegals in the US, people here legally on visas, and everyone currently on Obamacare and employer insurance plus the elderly already on Medicare. And if you think there won't be enough doctors (I don't), who do you think would be shuffled off to Nurse Practitioners? I think it will be the elderly, the group that gets Medicare, now.
The next time you go to your doctor, ask them if they think there are enough doctors to go around for Medicare For All and let us know what they say.
Oddly enough the rest of the world has it sorted out.
We should be training more Nurse practitioners and Physician assistants.
It does not take a PHD to do an ear infection.
That would be the most sensible solution. Working under the oversight of a physician, NPs and PAs can greatly extend quality care for many more people. Medical professionals with those qualifications can semi-independently operate clinics in rural areas. To become a PA generally takes 6 years of college and they earn master's degrees in health science. Then they get intensive on-the-job training at medical clinics and hospitals. Some of them, due to their more recent educations, may be more up-to-date on some medical issues than older physicians.
Last edited by Steve McDonald; 03-20-2019 at 02:19 AM..
How about Medicare for All Illegals that can cross our borders.
How do we pay the Medical for every 3rd world person who wants to come claim asylum and get free treatment for their disease?
Let's see... 80,000 a month. 1 Million a year. We can't build enough hospitals or create enough doctors to take care of all the babies they drop.
More democratic voters...it is all the dems care about...power.
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