It seems everywhere one turns these days, bad news abounds. Now, according to a major survey conducted by the Physician’s Foundation, it looks as if a number of primary physicians are cutting back on the number of patients they treat, or are getting out of private practice altogether.
The Physicians’ Foundation for Health Systems Excellence (PFHSE), a not-for-profit group composed of medical societies and physician leaders, was seeking answers to questions when undertaking one of most ambitious physician surveys ever attempted. Began in May, 2008, PFHSE sent over 300,000 surveys to primary care physicians and selected medical specialists throughout the country. The survey was sent to virtually every active primary care physician nationwide, and to specialists in small, independent practices.
The results?
An overwhelming majority – 78 percent – of physicians believe that there is an existing shortage of primary care doctors in the United States today. Additionally, nearly half of them – 49 percent, or more than 150,000 practicing doctors– say that over the next three years they plan to reduce the number of patients they see or stop practicing entirely.
The reasons given were predictable, given the bureaucratic nature of the health system, and the corruption which necessarily flows from it. Too much non-clinical paperwork, difficulty getting reimbursed, too much government regulation, lack of time (caused by the above problems) to form patient relationships. And on and on.
Implicit in all this is the low rate in which Medicaid and Medicare pay the physicians. Directly from the horses mouth, my own physician and friend for ten years reports to me the appaling rates paid to him—sometimes less than one-half of what a major insurer would pay for the same service.
And, in general, most disabled folks rely on Medicare or Medicaid to take care of their medical expenses. But, as everyone knows, these government resources fall short of the mark as far as providing comprehensive coverage, and many folks simply go without needed medications or procedures. Out of twenty physicians in my county, eighteen are refusing to accept Medicare or Medicaid.
We can all hope that the incoming administration begins to address this most serious issue, as health is a vital link in the chain of cultural prosperity. A society which promotes health, both direct and preventative, is a successful order—-better productivity, less pain, suffering, and frustration. It only makes sense.
And if we all write our legislators, and stay as active as possible in advocacy roles, good things can happen.  Just a portion of the AIG bailout would have gone a long way in solving this payment issue.
Having said that, it would appear that our little town will be losing its best physician. For a different reason, however.
In his case, he leaving as a result of the intrusion into his practice by the state Board of Medical Examiners, who arbitrarily fined him $15,000 and sends a state minion to his practice monthly to make sure he is complying with supposed ‘lack of documentation’ when dispensing pain medication.
It’s unbelievable how much power this Board wields. They are appointed by the Governor, and are therefore immune from any redress a physician (or patient) might have. As an example, they used my medical records, along with three others, without our knowledge or permission to find this physician guilty of ‘infractions of Board procedures.’
By coincidence, he is one of the few physicians who believe in the Medical Marijuana program, a successfully run state program, in place now for nearly ten years. The Board of Medical Examiners is under pressure from the pharmaceutical companies to quash the use of cannabis to mitigate pain, as it does not provide profit to folks like Pfizer or Squibb. So, it becomes political. And doctors who support the program are subject to harassment and punishment.
As a result, our little town will soon be without the services of one of the finest physicians I have ever known. Now, we will have six doctors, and one less excellent diagnostic expert.
He is opening a clinic in Mexico, and the urge to follow him is compelling. Better brush up on my Spanish.
Adios,
Advocate.
p.s.
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