Comments on: Will the lack of primary care doctors make universal coverage useless? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html medical blog Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:53:32 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jeff Brandt http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-113886 Jeff Brandt Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:23:17 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-113886 There are a lot of professional worker from engineers to lawyers in the USA that have been replace over time by technology, outsourcing, and H1B Visas. Not always better, just always cheaper. The medical field has been shielded from this but this to is now changing. You all know this, we have had coder in Africa for years and labs being evaluated in the southern hemisphere. Remember that a system that does not adapt to change will cease to exist. I understand what doctors are fearing because I was in a similar position myself several years ago when most of my company's work was sent overseas and I had to layoff most of my employees. I saw the writing on the wall several years before and tried to convenience some of my principles that we needed to change strategies and work within the new boundaries but it fell on deaf ear. The medical paradigm shift that doctors are facing is going to be difficult and take some time to adjust. What I am saying and trying to warn you about; is to control your future by understanding the upcoming change so it doesn't control you. Jeff Brandt www.comsi.com There are a lot of professional worker from engineers to lawyers in the USA that have been replace over time by technology, outsourcing, and H1B Visas. Not always better, just always cheaper. The medical field has been shielded from this but this to is now changing. You all know this, we have had coder in Africa for years and labs being evaluated in the southern hemisphere. Remember that a system that does not adapt to change will cease to exist.

I understand what doctors are fearing because I was in a similar position myself several years ago when most of my company’s work was sent overseas and I had to layoff most of my employees. I saw the writing on the wall several years before and tried to convenience some of my principles that we needed to change strategies and work within the new boundaries but it fell on deaf ear.

The medical paradigm shift that doctors are facing is going to be difficult and take some time to adjust. What I am saying and trying to warn you about; is to control your future by understanding the upcoming change so it doesn’t control you.

Jeff Brandt
http://www.comsi.com

]]> By: mom http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-113877 mom Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:36:05 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-113877 Doctors are already overloaded. Where is the tort reform? My sons want to be doctors when they grow up. I say no way should they go to medical school now, if Obamacare goes through. Why should they then go through all of the hard work for nothing. Government needs to stay out of healthcare! The AMA does NOT represent all doctors, only a minority of doctors belong to the AMA! No to HR3200! Doctors are already overloaded. Where is the tort reform? My sons want to be doctors when they grow up. I say no way should they go to medical school now, if Obamacare goes through. Why should they then go through all of the hard work for nothing. Government needs to stay out of healthcare! The AMA does NOT represent all doctors, only a minority of doctors belong to the AMA! No to HR3200!

]]> By: Jeff Brandt http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-108913 Jeff Brandt Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:47:10 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-108913 FYI Here is an article about importing PCP In Miami, Cuban Docs Fill Primary Care Void http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/08/04/in-miami-cuban-docs-fill-primary-care-void/ FYI Here is an article about importing PCP
In Miami, Cuban Docs Fill Primary Care Void

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/08/04/in-miami-cuban-docs-fill-primary-care-void/

]]> By: As Obama Seeks Healthcare Reform, Now’s the Time to Stand Up, Make Your Voice Heard: You Do Want Solid, Affordable Benefits & to Enjoy Excellent Health, Don’t You? : Boomer Lifestyle http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-108823 As Obama Seeks Healthcare Reform, Now’s the Time to Stand Up, Make Your Voice Heard: You Do Want Solid, Affordable Benefits & to Enjoy Excellent Health, Don’t You? : Boomer Lifestyle Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:19:39 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-108823 [...] Will the lack of primary care doctors make universal coverage useless? (kevinmd.com) [...] [...] Will the lack of primary care doctors make universal coverage useless? (kevinmd.com) [...]

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-108721 Anonymous Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:24:05 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-108721 We have been thinking of health care reform only because it is getting too expensive and we can no longer afford it but health care cost has been driven by its economics, if doctors make more money doing angioplasties and stents, who would want to focus his practice in preventing coronary artery disease? If you make more money doing hip replacements, why would more drs. do research and treatment on fracture prevention? These are only two examples, if we want meaning health care reform, we have to rethink the way we are reimbursing health care givers. A system that thinks of the welfare of everyone except those who are going to provide it will eventually fail. We have been thinking of health care reform only because it is getting too expensive and we can no longer afford it but health care cost has been driven by its economics, if doctors make more money doing angioplasties and stents, who would want to focus his practice in preventing coronary artery disease? If you make more money doing hip replacements, why would more drs. do research and treatment on fracture prevention? These are only two examples, if we want meaning health care reform, we have to rethink the way we are reimbursing health care givers.

A system that thinks of the welfare of everyone except those who are going to provide it will eventually fail.

]]> By: What Will Happen to the Elderly under New Health Care System Proposed By President Obama? - Smart Girl Nation http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-108518 What Will Happen to the Elderly under New Health Care System Proposed By President Obama? - Smart Girl Nation Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:09:41 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-108518 [...] Will the lack of primary care doctors make universal coverage useless? (kevinmd.com) [...] [...] Will the lack of primary care doctors make universal coverage useless? (kevinmd.com) [...]

]]> By: Andy http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-108498 Andy Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:40:28 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-108498 If the government forgives student loan debt for Primary care doctors this would increase the amount of pcp's .This needs to be done for prospective doctors and those already in practice.I know the programs are in place in each state ( for underserved areas )Tort Reform is so obvious I feel funny even mentioning it but the liberals won't go near it. If the government forgives student loan debt for Primary care doctors this would increase the amount of pcp’s .This needs to be done for prospective doctors and those already in practice.I know the programs are in place in each state ( for underserved areas )Tort Reform is so obvious I feel funny even mentioning it but the liberals won’t go near it.

]]> By: TrenchDoc http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-108482 TrenchDoc Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:01:59 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-108482 For PCPs to stay in the game we have to level the playing field in terms of : 1. Reimbursement - as they say the check from Obama is "in the mail". An 8 percent raise is not going to help me if I have to increase my overhead 8 percent or greater to meet all the new regulations that will certainly be required. 2. Decrease the hassel factor by simplfying forms. Every government form is now 2 pages or longer and require that I give a "narrative summary". What do they think my dictated chart notes are? BTW the dictation costs me 10 cents per line. 3 Tort reform is a must but I don't hear anything from Obama about this. Now that every patient willl have a PCP , every PCP will be sued. Because the PCP will be resposible and accountable for everything. But who do you think will have the power? 4. Bargining power. PCPs are still the largest number of docs in terms of training but we do not have equal representation for our interests by the AMA or any other society. This will force PCPs into larger groups in order to survive. For PCPs to stay in the game we have to level the playing field in terms of :
1. Reimbursement – as they say the check from Obama is “in the mail”. An 8 percent raise is not going to help me if I have to increase my overhead 8 percent or greater to meet all the new regulations that will certainly be required.
2. Decrease the hassel factor by simplfying forms. Every government form is now 2 pages or longer and require that I give a “narrative summary”. What do they think my dictated chart notes are? BTW the dictation costs me 10 cents per line.
3 Tort reform is a must but I don’t hear anything from Obama about this. Now that every patient willl have a PCP , every PCP will be sued. Because the PCP will be resposible and accountable for everything. But who do you think will have the power?
4. Bargining power. PCPs are still the largest number of docs in terms of training but we do not have equal representation for our interests by the AMA or any other society. This will force PCPs into larger groups in order to survive.

]]> By: twaw http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-108441 twaw Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:47:49 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-108441 Dr. Karan Just an observation: That the AMA, AAFP, ACP, AARP and ANA are aboard with the proposal is the single best reason for me to oppose it. These are the same organizations which have been acting on our collective behalf for the last 20+ years. Their collective incompetancies and indifference to their members over that time period is a major reason primary care is where it is today. Past performance is the best predictor of future performance. Dr. Karan
Just an observation: That the AMA, AAFP, ACP, AARP and ANA are aboard with the proposal is the single best reason for me to oppose it.
These are the same organizations which have been acting on our collective behalf for the last 20+ years. Their collective incompetancies and indifference to their members over that time period is a major reason primary care is where it is today. Past performance is the best predictor of future performance.

]]> By: Pankaj Karan,MD http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/07/will-the-lack-of-primary-care-doctors-make-universal-coverage-useless.html/comment-page-1#comment-108416 Pankaj Karan,MD Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:01:00 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38988#comment-108416 There has been discussions on several front how to save money from simply medicare and medicaid namely: 1.By one account 30% of medicare cost is due to unnecessary produres,duplicatioons and frauds. 2.Susidies to HMO ( unbelievable) to take care of medicare advantage patients which amounts to 100 billions dollars every 7-10 yrs. 3.Cutting payments for all specialities and radiological servises,DME realted servies,Home healthcare and Hospice care services. 4.Enticing ptoactive preventive care by PCP by increasing PCP increment in fees charged ( 8% already approved last week by Obama Admin.)bringing the wages of PCP closed to speciality care. 5.By lowering to cost insurance and bringing more people to insurance pool so that more pts will be available to be seen by PCP or Mid Level providers. Not having enough PCPs etc to handle all the supposed to be new pts with new healthplan if pasees is just a lame excuse. Realty is that all of the PCPs in my communites are looking foword to work harder and longer for hte proposed new changes.In fact some speacility like surgergeons and Obgyn are also willing to strat practicing as PCP because they are burnt out by high cost of insurance and spending too many hours in hospitals. When there is will,there is way. and we have a leader who is willing to listen waht american people want. At last AMA,AFP,ACP,AARP,Nurses assocaition haev all joined to OBAMA plan, not Phrama industry or Insurance industry 's lies and deceptions. There has been discussions on several front how to save money from simply medicare and medicaid namely:
1.By one account 30% of medicare cost is due to unnecessary produres,duplicatioons and frauds.
2.Susidies to HMO ( unbelievable) to take care of medicare advantage patients which amounts to 100 billions dollars every 7-10 yrs.
3.Cutting payments for all specialities and radiological servises,DME realted servies,Home healthcare and Hospice care services.
4.Enticing ptoactive preventive care by PCP by increasing PCP increment in fees charged ( 8% already approved last week by Obama Admin.)bringing the wages of PCP closed to speciality care.
5.By lowering to cost insurance and bringing more people to insurance pool so that more pts will be available to be seen by PCP or Mid Level providers.
Not having enough PCPs etc to handle all the supposed to be new pts with new healthplan if pasees is just a lame excuse. Realty is that all of the PCPs in my communites are looking foword to work harder and longer for hte proposed new changes.In fact some speacility like surgergeons and Obgyn are also willing to strat practicing as PCP because they are burnt out by high cost of insurance and spending too many hours in hospitals.
When there is will,there is way. and we have a leader who is willing to listen waht american people want.
At last AMA,AFP,ACP,AARP,Nurses assocaition haev all joined to OBAMA plan, not Phrama industry or Insurance industry ’s lies and deceptions.

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