Comments on: Should doctors support Congress’ health reform efforts?

By: Worried MS1

Worried MS1 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:13:20 +0000

As a first year I have a lot of ties to people practicing within the field. I agree reform needs to happen but why would we leave reform up to lawyers/politicians. Isn’t that a conflict of interest. The AMA has made a mistake by quickly rushing out and supporting a bill rather than saying, “we support healthcare reform and but at this time have not seen a bill which we feel addresses the core principles that need reformation”… if something like that was said they could still cover their behinds as well as accurately represent their members.

The other side of reform that I rarely see addressed is the physician shortage that will ensue. My brother in law is an anesthesiologist and has cut back hours as to stay under a tax bracket. My uncle is considering moving to a cash only practice (he has already stopped seeing medicare and medicaid patients, not because he is in it for the money but because he doesn’t have the time to deal with the piles of paperwork and other issues that follows patients using that type of payment). As well, several Emergency Rooms within the town I live in have converted to urgent care clinics. From my understanding this is so they aren’t stuck with treating patients that don’t have insurance. Its scary to imagine what other ‘changes’ will manifest as health care reform is passed. Its like influenza, its not a matter of if, but when.

By: EM Physician

EM Physician — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:24:48 +0000

I find it so easy to find docs everywhere who are against health care reform. They don’t want government involved. They don’t want patients having access issues. They are against rationing. They don’t want death panels (expect for Billy Mallon)….really??

Let me summarize it for you, they don’t want to change. Someone is threatening to move their cheese, and they are mad about it.

http://www.em-blog.com/blog/2009/9/2/i-am-against-health-care-reform-by-dominic-bagnoli-md.html

By: patrick garrett RN

patrick garrett RN — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:47:35 +0000

There can’t be a right to any one’s labor. If a “right” like that exists, what other “rights” are we unaware of? The right to food? The right to a shelter? The right to clothing? How is the distinction being made that health care is a right, without referring to who is to provide that right?

By: Michael Riesberg MD

Michael Riesberg MD — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:17:26 +0000

I can understand the blogs of the above members, including Dr Johnson. I LOVE medicine but I honestly hate the SYSTEM that FORCES us to comply and takes away our freedoms. EMTALA, HIPAA, Red Flag Rules, HIT/Outcomes Research, and CMS/Medicare Audits all have ATTACHED PENALTIES for non-compliance. No wonder MORALE among physicians is at an all-time low. TOM DASCHLE—especially in his book “Critical”, unilaterally blames PHYSICIANS for the cost of health care. He FAILS to SPREAD THE RESPONSIBILITY to hospitals, PHARMA, and Insurance Companies—-why? Because—Daschle is a HIGHLY PAID LOBBY member representing these entities. Daschle wants a FAST/HASTY passage of “ANY form of reform” in order to PREVENT OPPOSITION. The AMERICAN PUBLIC has no problem forking-over millions of dollars to athletes, entertainers, politocians, and lawyers. Are they getting a BETTER PRODUCT today versus in the 1950’s or 1960’s? In medicine, more people are SURVIVING today versus in the 1950’s and 1960’s—–including TRAUMA, pediatric/neonatal, and the list goes on. Yet our society COMPLAINS on spending for those areas that IMPROVE their quality of life. Final Point——our biggest enemies in government are OVERSPENDING and HIGH TAXES. Until we stop punnishing the small businesses and professionals in this country, it will be hard to get back on our feet. Like Dr Johnson and many other physicians, I feel that most of my work and sacrifice goes to taxes and pleasing government—-yet what I get in return is increased REGULATION —-and unlike other SMALL BUSINESSES, I DO NOT feel that I have the same rights as other small business owners—or for that matter, the same rights as administrators in the health care system.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:16:14 +0000

Physicians are being sold a bill of goods with this. The government never steps away from something with this many votes at stake. It merely gets in deeper, no matter how poorly this “reform” goes. If it stinks, it will only be evidence that we need MORE government.

Why the AMA backs this I have no idea, as the only option for physicians to take back their time and control of their livelihood is by backing away from the third party payment model.

Kevin asks this question: “But a more important question is, what if reform doesn’t pass?”

Then you still have a lot of control over your future. Currently about 50% of the cost of healthcare is paid by the government. Do you think this “reform” will increase or decrease that number? If it’s the former, how does this help the physician? Does his/her bargaining power INCREASE against the federal government?

Right now you still have a lot of patients out there that could transition to a more direct payment system. As more and more pay via their taxes, their appreciation for your work goes down (after all, I pay my taxes, where’s my healthcare?) and your ability to be paid more based on your skills declines.

In no way, shape or form is this good for physicians. And as a result, it’s not good for patients either.

By: Doc99

Doc99 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:30:53 +0000

Even the President admits these bills all need work -

Obama, asked on NBC’s “Today” show whether he would sign any of the bills working through Congress, said, “Right now, they’re not where they need to be.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN208242420090721?sp=true

By: Dr. Mary Johnson

Dr. Mary Johnson — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:56:23 +0000

Respectfully shadowfax, what you brush off as “made up” or a “flight of fancy” appears rather to be a reasonable set of deductions based on the language of the bill (as well as what we have seen happen in the past – of course, I can’t refer to personal experience) of what could happen as this bill is currently written.

In short, ramming this thing through with little real imput from doctors (apart from the AMA) and practically ZERO debate demonstrates an alarming lack of foresight.

We’re already dealing with loads of “unintended consequences” of other laws passed as knee-jerks to one problem or another (HIPAA and HCQIA come immediately to mind).

P.S. Be careful. “BS” might be perceived by some as “unrestrained ranting”.

By: shadowfax

shadowfax — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:05:24 +0000

Dr Johnson,
Yeah, when someone just made up something pure and simple about the House bill, Obama wasn’t familiar with that because it’s a flight of fancy. I can see that it’s the right-wing meme du jour, popping up from Michelle Bachmann and heading out from there, but it’s BS, and no wonder that Obama was not “familiar” with it.

By: Dr. Mary Johnson

Dr. Mary Johnson — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:16:15 +0000

Dr. Pho, Dr. Rohack, at the risk of having my voice at your table moderated out, according to DRUDGE this evening, the President of the United States is not completely familiar with the specifics of his own healthcare reform bill – the one he wants to ram down our throats in a matter of weeks:

http://www.heritage.org/2009/07/21/morning-bell-obama-admits-hes-not-familiar-with-house-bill/

Here’s the audio:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/07/21/obama_not_familiar_with_key_provision_in_health_care_bill.html

Yet we, as physicians, are supposed march blithely and blindly behind this man . . . and the AMA?

By: Doc99

Doc99 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:43:14 +0000

When I go to a restaurant, if I don’t like the way the meal was prepared, I can request they take it back and redo it to my liking. Why cannot these so-called public servants take their “reform” back to committee and keep taking it back until they get it right? Don’t they work for us? Or am I wrong?