Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Health Reform May Lead to Significant Reduction in Physician Workforce

According to a survey conducted by the Medicus Firm,  "Health Reform May Lead to Significant Reduction in Physician Workforce." This isn't that surprising, is it? Maybe the bigger question is, why?

Here are some relevant snippets from the survey report:
  • Nearly one-third of physicians responding to the survey indicated that they will want to leave medical practice after health reform is implemented.
  • “What many people may not realize is that health reform could impact physician supply in such a way that the quality of health care could suffer,” said Steve Marsh, managing partner at The Medicus Firm in Dallas. “The reality is that there may not be enough doctors to provide quality medical care to the millions of newly insured patients.”
  • Based on the survey results, health reform could, over time, prove to be counterproductive, in that it could decrease patients’ access to medical care while the objective is to improve access.
  • Doctors want change, but only 28.7 percent of physicians responded in favor of a public option as part of health reform.
  • An overwhelming 63 percent of physicians prefer a more gradual, targeted approach to health reform, as opposed to one sweeping overhaul. 
If you know any physicians looking to leave or quit medicine, refer them to: http://www.nonclinicaljobs.com/

Actually, I think it would be more important to encourage physicians to stay in medicine and to care for all these people who used to lack insurance. Don't switch to a cash practice or a concierge model, because then we'll end up where we started.

To read the report about the physician survey titled, "Physician Survey: Health Reform’s Impact on Physician Supply and Quality of Medical Care," click here.

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