Interesting comment from a "man on the street" on the CBS news tonight. He said that he felt the only people who supported health care reform were people looking for free health care. :lol:

 

God love the narrow minded. :lol: One must only be looking for something for oneself to support something that would help so many. :lol:

This is extremely deceptive, because there is actually a crisis going on in the number of primary csre physicians. There may be higher numbers of specialists, but that's because that is whaere all the doctors are going in order to make better pay. Much of this is because of lowered reimbursements and sky-rocketing malpractice insurance.

 

I think I heard that, in a few years, we will be like a million doctors short of what we need in the primary care area.

 

Another problem with the number of physicians is that as the population has increased the number of doctors has not. I will look for the article I read a couple of weeks ago that said we are graduating the same number of doctors as we did in the early 70's because medical schools still accept the same amount of students. Med schools need to expand the amount of students they accept to keep pace with the growing population.

I can only tell you this. I have a brother-in-law that is a doctor, we were discussing this the other day. He told me quite a few of the doctors he knows want no part of an intrusive government getting their grubby paws on health care or health insurance and that they said they would retire if this bill passed. He himself is kicking the idea around.

 

On your second question, I'd say the cost of malpractice insurance is a much bigger reason and naturally this administration will do nothing to correct that.

 

What will these doctors do instead?

Another problem with the number of physicians is that as the population has increased the number of doctors has not. I will look for the article I read a couple of weeks ago that said we are graduating the same number of doctors as we did in the early 70's because medical schools still accept the same amount of students. Med schools need to expand the amount of students they accept to keep pace with the growing population.

 

 

Yet another issue not related to the current legislation. I think that if there's one thing that has been accomplished, maybe some people are realizing things about healthcare in our country they never knew. They're blaming the ills on the legislation, but the crisis has been growing over decades.

Y'all, I'm not slow. Help me understand why, when patients will be able to pay, and doctors will be reimbursed via insurance payments for services, doctors stand to lose money?

 

Why are doctors so opposed to this (and by no means are ALL doctors opposed, as I am well aware after having had discussions with quite a few that I know personally).

 

AllTell, I honestly appreciate the concern you express on a personal level. TRock has 3 more years before he graduates with his PhD, so I'm sure we'll see exactly what the effects are by then. But, even before this, he's explored all the ways he can use his degree(s), and I'm confident in his ability to make the right decision for himself when the time comes.

 

Because the reimbursement is horrible. The politicans can say this is not government insurance but that is what it is. Did you know that the government produces the medical billing codes not the medical industry? Also for Medicare and Medicaid the government says what they are going to reimburse for those billing codes. So why would the government pay what a private insurance company pays when essentially, the people on Medicaid and Medicare are not paying for their insurance and besides tax dollars is all the revenue they have? Plus these 2 systems are almost bankrupt. It is all about the almighty dollar.

 

My dad has a cardiologist and this cardiologist has a sign on his window to his office, NO MEDICAID because they get such poor reimbursement from them. I have not heard anywhere from the government what these plans are and the type of coverage and payment you will have with these. but I can tell you if the government has their fingers in it they will screw it up. I am going to assume pretty shortly (within the year) most doctors who already have a good amount of patients will stop taking new patients and if you do have to get the insurance that you can buy from the government they will not accept it. I am in the medical field and I know quite a few doctors who will be retiring which is sad because they are good doctors.

 

A lot of doctors in the Cincinnati area have already declined taking AEtna because their reimbursement is HORRIBLE. This plan in my mind is going to be no different.

So, memyselfandi, it's not about the care of the patients that doctors are worried about, it's about how much more money than can make on certain patients.

So, memyselfandi, it's not about the care of the patients that doctors are worried about, it's about how much more money than can make on certain patients.

 

Actually it's both.

 

A lot of medicare payments are equal to or less than the cost of the service that the doctor gives. So the doctor loses money or works for free. They do have to pay employees, rent, equipment, etc. And, they do have to make a profit.

So, memyselfandi, it's not about the care of the patients that doctors are worried about, it's about how much more money than can make on certain patients.

 

So let me ask this. You get a college degree and you have roughly $250K in student loans and it could even be more. Would you be working for free when the government is not willing to pay you to see a patient they have insurance on? I can answer this question for myself. The answer would be flat out NO.

 

I agree 100% with coldweatherfan. This doctor also has to pay rent, equipment and employees' salaries. Plus pay for their own personal bills and pay for their insurance as well. You would be amazed on how much GP doctors make. It is not as much as you think.

Actually it's both.

 

A lot of medicare payments are equal to or less than the cost of the service that the doctor gives. So the doctor loses money or works for free. They do have to pay employees, rent, equipment, etc. And, they do have to make a profit.

 

That's a fair statement.

 

So, now what needs to be done as to the cost of the service? We've all seen the horror stories of the $1000 tissues, etc from hospitals. There are legitimate concerns over the costs of tests and things like blood work, etc.

 

I've seen my EOB's, and I do know that what the "market cost" is of the service is not what the doctor is getting reimbursed. Even with private insurance, the disparity is great. Why do doctors accept insurance at all if they aren't making money doing so?

Actually it's both.

 

A lot of medicare payments are equal to or less than the cost of the service that the doctor gives. So the doctor loses money or works for free. They do have to pay employees, rent, equipment, etc. And, they do have to make a profit.

People think all doctors are filthy rich, they really have no clue.

That's a fair statement.

 

So, now what needs to be done as to the cost of the service? We've all seen the horror stories of the $1000 tissues, etc from hospitals. There are legitimate concerns over the costs of tests and things like blood work, etc.

 

I've seen my EOB's, and I do know that what the "market cost" is of the service is not what the doctor is getting reimbursed. Even with private insurance, the disparity is great. Why do doctors accept insurance at all if they aren't making money doing so?

 

 

Third party payers (government or private) have played a huge part in the overall cost increases over the years.

That's a fair statement.

 

So, now what needs to be done as to the cost of the service? We've all seen the horror stories of the $1000 tissues, etc from hospitals. There are legitimate concerns over the costs of tests and things like blood work, etc.

 

I've seen my EOB's, and I do know that what the "market cost" is of the service is not what the doctor is getting reimbursed. Even with private insurance, the disparity is great. Why do doctors accept insurance at all if they aren't making money doing so?

I'm surprised then that you are for this bill then since it does nothing to address health care costs. This bill largely addresses health insurance, the ones that only make an average of 4% profit margin. I've not seen where pharmaceuticals, bio-technology or medical equipment is even mentioned, this is where the cost really is.

I'm surprised then that you are for this bill then since it does nothing to address health care costs. This bill largely addresses health insurance, the ones that only make an average of 4% profit margin. I've not seen where pharmaceuticals, bio-technology or medical equipment is even mentioned, this is where the cost really is.

 

I am so you mentioned pharmaceuticals. You know they made a "deal" with the government with this bill. They are going to make a fortune from this bill. I am not a big Fox News nor a MSNBC but I watched both from the last couple of days. Did you know the IRS will be paying the insurance companies, whomever they may be, their dues for those who are purchasing the government insurance that will be made from this bill? Can you say screw up? I think I heard this will be over $700 million a year. Also, very few have mentioned the privacy issues now the government is in "control" of the healthcare system. There are so many things wrong with this bill.

 

Plus government cannot make it mandatory for a person to purchase the insurance which according to this bill they can. It is crazy.

 

Also forgot to mention, Sheila Jackson, rep from Houston and a Democrat said 45,000 people died from not having insurance last year that is out of the million(s) who died WITH insurance. The politicans can turn it anyway they want it I just wish they would state the TRUTH.

What will these doctors do instead?

 

He said they would retire so my guess is golf and celebrate being out of the mess. Except of course when they need medical care.

People think all doctors are filthy rich, they really have no clue.

 

It depends on the doc, experience, location but they make make about what Jay Bruce and Joey Votto are making this year, except they went to school for 10 years.