Bernie Sanders, Midlevels in Pain, & Your Prosperity

[drusso]

No one’s promising you can keep your doctor anymore

Democrats and Republicans agree that the primary care system needs an overhaul. They’re encouraging nurses to do more and embracing virtual care.

www.politico.com

"To deal with that dearth, the Biden administration and Congress are pushing policies to change how primary care providers are paid and to encourage nurses to take on larger roles. They’re facilitating virtual care’s expansion by lifting restrictions on when and how it can be used."

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[bedrock]

Terrible. They can pay the midlevels less, while mid levels order millions of dollars in unnecessary tests due to their vastly inferior training, and so ultimately health care costs much more.

 

[nvrsumr]

Or they could just increase physician fee schedule and index to inflation.

Would be plenty of highly trained private practice family docs willing to work faster and better and would almost immediately cost less than an army of mid levels in govt community clinics clicking buttons

Anyway just a waste of time even thinking about a solution. The army of midlevels is exactly what is wanted by the powers that be. Health be damned.

 

[TheLoneWolf]

Terrible. They can pay the midlevels less, while mid levels order millions of dollar in unnecessary tests due to their vastly inferior training, and ultimately health care costs more.

Don't forget the ability to punt difficult cases and problematic patients to the physician as they either aren't comfortable or are out of their scope. They can tailor their practice way more than you and they know it. Not a bad deal for the money they make.

Also, the nursing unions are huge donors to the democratic party in the last several elections. Biden must give something back to his patrons.

 

[TheLoneWolf]

Or they could just increase physician fee schedule and index to inflation.

Would be plenty of highly trained private practice family docs willing to work faster and better and would almost immediately cost less than an army of mid levels in govt community clinics clicking buttons

Anyway just a waste of time even thinking about a solution. The army of midlevels is exactly what is wanted by the powers that be. Health be damned.

I would argue they want an army of half wits with the bare minimum training over a highly specialized workforce with an incentive to work.

You care about proper and appropriate standards of care, they care about how they can virtue signal to their unions and the public about increased diversity, inclusion, equity and access to healthcare. A highly specialized you means patient backlogs. You are not the same!

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

Or they could just increase physician fee schedule and index to inflation.

Would be plenty of highly trained private practice family docs willing to work faster and better and would almost immediately cost less than an army of mid levels in govt community clinics clicking buttons

Anyway just a waste of time even thinking about a solution. The army of midlevels is exactly what is wanted by the powers that be. Health be damned.

They've done just that, plus next year we get a Chronic Disease code for any visits that have more than 2 chronic diseases (which is at least half of my office visits).

Insurance-based private primary care is tough to manage since so many of the primary care incentives require a solid support staff.

 

[Pain Applicant1]

Just confirmation that my NP primary care clinic should be nicely positioned. It's best to be as prepared as possible and to spot opportunity wherever it may be.