Doctors concerned about effects of healthcare reform
In a recent survey conducted by Thomson Reuters/HCPlexus, physicians were asked a series of questions relating to health reform and the future of healthcare. Of the 3,000 physicians surveyed, 65% worried that healthcare reform would produce lower pay and lower quality of care. As the old saying goes, be careful for what you wish for. During the debate the AMA came out in support of the health reform bill. I realize the AMA does not have the strong voice with providers as they did in the past but they still carry weight in their support or lack of support of health issues.
As reported by Bernie Monegain the key findings of the survey showed the following:
- During the next five years, 18 percent say the quality of healthcare in this country will improve, 17 percent say it will stay the same and 65 percent say it will deteriorate.
- 9 percent of the doctors surveyed say The Affordable Care Act will result in physician reimbursement becoming fairer, while 17 percent say it will neither be fair nor unfair and 74 percent believe it will be less fair.
- 27 percent of physicians believe the impact of the Affordable Care Act for patients will be positive, 15 percent say it will be neutral and 57 percent say it will be negative.
- 8 percent of physicians believe the impact of the Affordable Care Act on them will be positive, while 14 percent say it will be neutral and 78 percent say it will be negative.
We are now entering the next round of debates with the House voting to repeal the bill and waiting to see what the Senate will do; the next few days will be interesting. We all know that repealing the ACA will not be possible. What is clear, based on this survey, is that physicians are realizing the next few years will be a defining moment. Things have to change. They must change. We must provide a rational system where providers, payers and consumers are all sitting at the table and developing solutions that will balance the competing interests of the marketplace. If we don’t, I would hate to see if the survey is conducted two years from now what the results will look like.
Source:
2011 National Physicians Survey polled 2,958 physicians of varying specialties and practice types in all states. Thomson Reuters and HCPLexus conducted the survey in September 2010 and updated it in December 2010 and January.