Physician shortages and impact of the Affordable Care Act

1stmeds · Feb 12, 2012

I found this interesting article on the current primary care physician shortage in America and how it will likely be exacerbated by the Affordable Care Act (should the SC deem it constitutional).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...o-few-doctors/2012/02/10/gIQALEQp4Q_blog.html

Its also interesting to note the similarities in primary care selection trending upwards both recently and in the late 90s in anticipation of such high demand (and presumed economic payoff) of PCPs. Obviously, it didn't pan out as anticipated, as the article mentions, and specialty care still reigns supreme. Perhaps a similar cycle is underway, but until the Supreme Court makes a ruling, it seems we're only left to speculate.

NickNaylor · Feb 12, 2012

You're going to be left to speculate no matter what. The only way you're going to know for sure what happens in the future is if hard caps/quotas are used to fill particular fields. Otherwise it's all just speculation.

Sure, the one of the things the ACA is touted to do is increase the number of PCPs, but until it comes into effect and starts working, there's no way to say for sure if it'll actually succeed. That tends to be the problem with behemoth systems that are incapable of being understood by one person: the effects of changes can't be reliably predicted.

ppfizenm · Feb 12, 2012

deleted393595 · Feb 12, 2012

NickNaylor said:
Sure, the one of the things the ACA is touted to do is increase the number of PCPs, but until it comes into effect and starts working, there's no way to say for sure if it'll actually succeed. That tends to be the problem with behemoth systems that are incapable of being understood by one person: the effects of changes can't be reliably predicted.

Agreed. There are also multiple confounding factors. For example, just because someone has insurance doesn't mean that they'll use it to see their doctor.

Wombat Hunter · Feb 12, 2012

ElCapone said:
Agreed. There are also multiple confounding factors. For example, just because someone has insurance doesn't mean that they'll use it to see their doctor.

But I'd bet my testicles there's a significant correlation.
This is one trend I think we can be sure about.

zwitterion34 · Feb 12, 2012

Wombat Hunter said:
But I'd bet my testicles there's a significant correlation.
This is one trend I think we can be sure about.

That is a big risk unless you have more than two testicles... 😎

NickNaylor · Feb 12, 2012

Wombat Hunter said:
But I'd bet my testicles there's a significant correlation.
This is one trend I think we can be sure about.

Well what do you know, someone actually tested this stuff: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAND_Health_Insurance_Experiment

scarshapedstar · Feb 12, 2012

I have "insurance" with like a $5,000 deductible. I go to an urgent care if I'm sick but generally avoid going to the doctor at all costs, because I'm afraid they will jack up my premium. So, I see a doctor approximately every two years and have no PCP to speak of.

Meanwhile, I volunteer at a free clinic for the homeless where most people get a physical exam every two weeks even if they say they don't want one. I volunteer near a hospital where there are usually 100-200 people waiting outside the ER, none of whom will pay a dime, many of whom come by several times a month.

Yeah, insurance is awesome.

Physician shortages and impact of the Affordable Care Act

1stmeds

started from the bottom

NickNaylor

Thank You for Smoking

ppfizenm

Full Member

deleted393595

Wombat Hunter

MarsupialMarauding Member

zwitterion34

.4520000000000000k Member

NickNaylor

Thank You for Smoking

scarshapedstar

MD c/o 2016

Similar threads