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The most interesting thing I learned when these poll results were reported is what a small percentage of doctors are members of the American Medical Association. So, when the President or Congress says doctors support Obamacare (because of the AMA support), we aren't exactly talking about the majority of practicing doctors.
I heard today that AMA membership is 17% of practicing physicians.
"The AMA, which has endorsed President Obama’s plan on behalf of its membership, released another letter supporting the president’s central reform elements on September 8. Speakers pointed out that the AMA only speaks for 17 percent of physicians in the U.S."
InThe Netherlands that has happened, either they quit due to the work pressure being way to high and not being able to see and handle so many patients...
People forget that one of the big cuts mean that less people CAN see a specialist and have to go first to their primary specialist which befre they wouldn't even go to first....many don't get to the specialist since primary physicians have an ego too and think they know many things the specialist knows and start trying to help them....
One of our customers has a son that has been going to medical school for years. He has decided to sit this year out because of obamacare. He does not want to put more money into his medical education when he will choose a different career if hussein obama is able to shove this nightmare down America's throat.
Good for him. There's a long line of people looking for work on Wall Street. And yeah, good luck with those school loans.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcsldcd
I could believe that. I also think something needs to be done but we have a history of our government screwing up everything they touch. If they got rid of all the illegal immigrants, opened up all the insurance companies across state lines and had tort reform, that would bring the cost way down.
You have a point, but the insurance companies and their greed wouldn't make a big difference. They'd make more money.
Good luck trying to get rid of all the illegal immigrants. Call me when that works out. (Never going to happen..They will dance around that issue for decades, so stop holding your breath )
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Originally Posted by Gary Siete
Medical school is typically an expensive 4 year course taken after receiving a Bachelor's degree. This kid has been going to medical school for years and is now going to drop out (in his last year?) because of proposed legislation that may or may not pass that introduces a new insurance option? I suspect dad is covering for other reasons - son can't hack it, or doesn't have the grades. I wish him well repaying his college loans.
Or he may have never liked Medicine, and thought of it just to make money. Good riddings! You're right, the son may not be doing well in school, or just can't cut it. Who knows?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddie Ho
I'm an Independent, and so's the wife. Neither of us are for Obamacare. My wife is a Dentist with her own practice. What I'd like to see would be more along the lines of this:
Remove the income requirements for Medicare, and make that the Universal Health Care plan. In other words, expand medicare to be *open* to everyone. If people want private insurance, they can still have it. Give medicare a new name to reflect the new program. It should be called US Health Care.
My wife already donates free dental care to those that can't afford it. If a kid comes from a poor family and needs work done that isn't covered by state insurance, my wife does it anyway and just eats the cost. She feels that taking care of her patients means more than money. I agree with her.
Kudos to you and your wife. I know there are still some good people in the Medical profession. And your idea makes sense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pommysmommy
I know this because I know how to do math and I have common sense. Obama promises that a public option will save money. The only way to save money is to deny care. Refute that.
You mean like the big, greedy, profiting insurance companies? You're right, there is more money being made by denying people coverage, and now you want our government to do the same? Shame on you...
The survey was sponsored by Investors.com(IBD) who in a recent editorial ...
"criticized Barack Obama's healthcare plans, claimed that Stephen Hawking "wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless." As Hawking was born and has always lived in the United Kingdom, and receives his medical care from the British National Health Service, the editorial was widely criticized for its inaccuracy. The online version of the editorial was later corrected to remove the argument. Hawking responded to the editorial by saying: "I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS... I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived.""
Why would 45% of doctor's give up their livelihood? It is not a government takeover. It is a change to the health insurance industry that would add a public insurance option.
I'm an Independent, and so's the wife. Neither of us are for Obamacare. My wife is a Dentist with her own practice. What I'd like to see would be more along the lines of this:
Remove the income requirements for Medicare, and make that the Universal Health Care plan. In other words, expand medicare to be *open* to everyone. If people want private insurance, they can still have it. Give medicare a new name to reflect the new program. It should be called US Health Care.
My wife already donates free dental care to those that can't afford it. If a kid comes from a poor family and needs work done that isn't covered by state insurance, my wife does it anyway and just eats the cost. She feels that taking care of her patients means more than money. I agree with her.
I agree with 90% of what you said, but I'd like to point out, there are no income requirements for Medicare. The only requirement is that you have paid into the system for the required number of years (10, I believe).
Yep, I bet a large number of doctors have side businesses that can replace their MD money. Get real.
Exactly- we as physicians tend to know nothing professionally outside of medicine. Most physicians would starve if they were buisnessmen. I have been lucky, not by my knowledge of buisness (which is very poor), but through association.
Again, our practice did a face to face "audit" of how many docs would quit with Obamacare, and it came out to 9%. Most of us are not trained to do anything else and there is not the "exit plan" of working for an insurance company or drug company that was sometimes available in the past. I can quit due to my financial position (I have enough cash saved and can actually go on medical disability with 50% of my income if I choose), but I like to work and find medicine to be very interesting. If it was not my profession, I would probably incorporate it somehow into a hobby (not directly practicing of course).
Will I keep practicing if Obamacare goes through? Yes. The only thing that would make me quit would be if my expenses were starting to exceed my revenues generated by clinical practice and I would have to pay to work. It is interesting, but I do not think I would pay alot of money out of pocket to practice with no income. While this sounds strange, it is quite possible. For instance, most practices run 30-50% overhead, depending on the type of practice and number of docs in a shared space. If you cut reimbursement 50%, many of those practices with high overhead would be bankrupt as a result. People do not seem to realize this important factor which may result in a manpower shortage on the supply side. Further, as noted above, many of those anticipating entering training or in training will "cut thier losses" and no pursue completion of thier training.
Solutions if you have "socialized medicine"
1. Pay for medical school and residency training fully with a stipend (alot of training is already supported by the feds now)
2. Put physicians on salary such that there will be an ample supply of physicians who know that when they complete thier training they will be positive in income for thier work.
I would rather work for a salary and am conisdering doing so by going to the VA full time (at 1/3 of my current income from clinical practice). Why? Easier pace and more focus on medicine, rather than the economics of medicine.
I'm an Independent, and so's the wife. Neither of us are for Obamacare. My wife is a Dentist with her own practice. What I'd like to see would be more along the lines of this:
Remove the income requirements for Medicare, and make that the Universal Health Care plan. In other words, expand medicare to be *open* to everyone. If people want private insurance, they can still have it. Give medicare a new name to reflect the new program. It should be called US Health Care.
My wife already donates free dental care to those that can't afford it. If a kid comes from a poor family and needs work done that isn't covered by state insurance, my wife does it anyway and just eats the cost. She feels that taking care of her patients means more than money. I agree with her.
Exactly- we as physicians tend to know nothing professionally outside of medicine. Most physicians would starve if they were buisnessmen. I have been lucky, not by my knowledge of buisness (which is very poor), but through association.
Again, our practice did a face to face "audit" of how many docs would quit with Obamacare, and it came out to 9%. Most of us are not trained to do anything else and there is not the "exit plan" of working for an insurance company or drug company that was sometimes available in the past. I can quit due to my financial position (I have enough cash saved and can actually go on medical disability with 50% of my income if I choose), but I like to work and find medicine to be very interesting. If it was not my profession, I would probably incorporate it somehow into a hobby (not directly practicing of course).
Will I keep practicing if Obamacare goes through? Yes. The only thing that would make me quit would be if my expenses were starting to exceed my revenues generated by clinical practice and I would have to pay to work. It is interesting, but I do not think I would pay alot of money out of pocket to practice with no income. While this sounds strange, it is quite possible. For instance, most practices run 30-50% overhead, depending on the type of practice and number of docs in a shared space. If you cut reimbursement 50%, many of those practices with high overhead would be bankrupt as a result. People do not seem to realize this important factor which may result in a manpower shortage on the supply side. Further, as noted above, many of those anticipating entering training or in training will "cut thier losses" and no pursue completion of thier training.
Solutions if you have "socialized medicine"
1. Pay for medical school and residency training fully with a stipend (alot of training is already supported by the feds now)
2. Put physicians on salary such that there will be an ample supply of physicians who know that when they complete thier training they will be positive in income for thier work.
I would rather work for a salary and am conisdering doing so by going to the VA full time (at 1/3 of my current income from clinical practice). Why? Easier pace and more focus on medicine, rather than the economics of medicine.
I beleive the survey said many would quit or take early retirement. You really think only 9% would bail? I know all our doctors are very concerned. Have any of them said they would leave practice? No, but they have indicated they are not happy. Of course no one thinks 45% would quit, but I get a huge number would take early retirement.
Nita
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And yeah, good luck with those school loans. 
)
You're right, there is more money being made by denying people coverage, and now you want our government to do the same? Shame on you...
