Obama-care and the Coming Healthcare Cataclysm

[Elizabeth Parella]

There is a succinct, prescient, and informative column in the New York Post today, September 23rd, relative to why doctors are NOT in favor of Obama healthcare, written by Marc K. Siegel. It states:

1. A majority of physicians oppose the proposed healthcare plan, and almost half would consider early retirement. Is this any wonder? Right now, doctors are paid a miniscule amount in reimbursement for the treatment of Medicaid and Medicare patients. This I know because I see what is paid to my husband's doctors under Medicare...and it's pathetic! And just try and find a doctor if you're a Medicaid patient?

2. Under normal circumstances, there will be a doctor shortage of approximately 150,000 doctors by 2025 with only normal population growth. How will the current doctors and nurses take care of the 47+ million who would be MANDATED to have insurance? Where will the new doctors come from? WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT to be a doctor when your remuneration will be a pittance, and yet your MALPRACTICE INSURANCE costs will NOT decline, your RENT will NOT decline, and the staff you have to hire to maintain will demand MORE and MORE over the years in terms of their own salaries?

3. The "gaming" of the system would continue as doctors would send their patients for MRIs, CAT scans, and all other expensive procedures, time and time again, so that they will not get SUED if charged with malpractice! It would be WORSE with the infusion of so many millions into an already-burdened system.

4. We have already heard that Medicare and Medicaid costs will be CUT. Try and find a Medicaid doctor...they are few and far between...and few operate on Park Avenue here in New York City (I don't know of one, but I'll give it a rest and say there may be a "few"). Try and find a Medicare psychiatrist when your loved one has some problems and needs treatment and psychiatric medication....call after call to various and sundry psychiatrists, only to be told, "No, I'm sorry, I don't take Medicare patients." One great source to find one is the American Psychiatric Association, rather than looking for referrals from your primary care physician.

ELDER CARE:

As Medicare and Medicaid cuts are made, what do we do with those who are paralyzed and need their motorized wheelchairs? Do we just put these unfortunate folks on their beds and walk away? Do the death panel members come and tell these poor unfortunates that they have only one choice left? These folks are often the poorest of the poor, and among the most unfortunate folks in the country, yet they will be THROWN UNDER THE BUS along with all those whom Obama and his minions have thrust under the huge yellow bus.

Rationing? YOU BETCHA! Doctors will be seeing potentially up to 50 patients a day (and perhaps more!). How much time will YOU be getting from your doctor as you try to explain what is ailing you? You will be shunted out of the office to go to yet another office for a specialist consultation, or to yet another office for blood tests, MRI scans, CT scans, etc. What kind of CARE can these loving and caring doctors offer their patients? VERY LITTLE it would seem, as the pressures of time crush them to the ground as they try to (a) provide care to their patients, and (b) make a decent living for themselves and their families.

NO TORT REFORM? How stupid is this? NO PENALTIES FOR FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS? How stupid is that? NO MECHANISM IN PLACE TO DETECT NUISANCE LAWSUITS? How stupid is that? IT'S ALL STUPID. And it's so simple to fix.

CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN AND SENATOR AND DEMAND TORT REFORM! The hell with the trial lawyers...they've been gaming the system forever now to the detriment not only of the medical profession but to the detriment of we the people.

[Kathryn Ball]

Thank you for sharing this, Elizabeth. 'WE' have been charecterized as right-wing-nuts, anti American and racists to mention just a few of the titles bestowed on us by the left.
The shortage of physicians will grow if this monstrocity passes and is signed into law. 45% will quit their practices or retire early. Why would ANY SANE person enter a profession that calls for a minimum of 12 years of schooling and residency to fall into a pay grade comperable to a checker at Wallmart [no offense intended...just a comparison] and to live with the very real possibility of a malpractice suit in their future which would devestate his/her family security?!?!
I can only imagine the government's solution to the Dr. shortage..........lower the standards for med school entries as well as residencies. I can also see mandated specialties which will also lower the standard of care for everyone but the appointed 'ELITES', congress, the trial lawyers and the unions [they will keep what they have].
I'd like to quote Jeffrey Kuhner [journalist for the Washingtom Post] in his interview on the Rusty Humphries radio program last evening. He said that "Washington DC is Hollywood for ugly people".
He went on to say that the people we send to represent us change when they get to DC [I've long thought that they are taken to a little room where their spines are removed], they become very much wrapped up in the perception of their power and elevated status. They are shallow and vapid, almost like the women in the "Stepford Wives".
I doubt that congress will ever pass any kind of MEANINGFUL tort reform because most of them are lawyers.
It is long past time for ALL of them to retire to the real world and work for a living. I also think that the current pension plan is more than excessive and needs a major overhall!