The looming health care bomb – a scenario

As we stand by and wait for the ObamaCare law to take effect, enthusiasm within the medical profession seems to be waning (even more) as that time nears:

In late December, a survey of 501 physicians was released by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions research group, whose parent company serves clients in the health care industry. Nearly half (48%) expected health reform to hurt their incomes this year, while 73% said it would not reduce costs.

Though this isn't a scientific survey, and other such surveys have and will show physicians' support for the Affordable Care Act, the early glimpse of the law's potential impact will likely lead to economic pain for doctors and a diminished system for their patients. Indeed, the Deloitte survey found that 69% of the physicians are "pessimistic about the future of medicine" because of the law.

It may not be scientific, but it certainly seems indicative of attitudes in the medical profession.  I mentioned one example of what was shaping this sort of an opinion in an earlier post.

Here's another little factoid one might find interesting that tells a bit of a story too:

An online survey in September by the Jackson & Coker physician recruitment firm — based on 1,611 doctors who chose to respond — reflected that the majority of doctors don't believe that the AMA represents their views. The primary reason: the AMA's support of the legislation. Just 13% of those surveyed backed the Affordable Care Act.

That doesn't really pait a pretty picture for the future of the healthcare industry...

As you recall, the American Medical Association came out in favor of the law.

There's an unintended consequence from all of this (some would argue it's intended):

The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that the USA will be 160,000 physicians short by 2025 (when all patients would be insured under ObamaCare), and this is without even considering those doctors who will limit their practice to insured patients because of decreasing reimbursements or who retire early when faced with increasing costs with little return.

Of course the reason to mention that perhaps the consequences are intended is to point out that this still isn't the single payer system that those who passed the legislation preferred. 

So one has to wonder, how does an ideologue take the lemon of ObamaCare and make it into the socialist lemonade of a government run single-payer system.  Well what exists in the form of ObamaCare is certainly a good step one, isn't it?

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Original Page: http://www.qando.net/?p=12326