Obamacare Finds Its Cost Savings — Stop Paying Doctors

[CuteOldGuy]

This will be good. A health care system without doctors. How's that working for you?

From the article:

As Peter Suderman noted, the Obama administration is simultaneously pushing for Medicaid expansion and arguing that states should be allowed to reduce reimbursement to providers as a means of controlling costs in the bloated program. This comes even as Medicaid is already struggling to find providers willing to see patients — with low compensation cited as a major reason for the shortage.

The Obama administration's argument for reducing reimbursements for providers who see Medicaid patients was made very succinctly in a California courtroom:

"There is no general mandate under Medicaid to reimburse providers for all or substantially all of their costs."

The administration makes its argument in a case challenging California's decision to reduce Medicaid reimbursements by 10 percent. Note that if you don't reimburse sellers of goods and services for "all or substantially all of their costs" you are presumptively asking them to lose money on the deal. Unsurprisingly to everybody except government officials, providers tend to stop providing under such circumstances, if only to avoid bankruptcy, or else because they're going through it.

As it happens, California already has a shortage of willing providers, and is looking at expanding the roles of nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other medical practitioners to try to fill the gap. But there's no particular reason to think that other providers are more prone to financial martyrdom than are physicians. They have to cover their costs, too.

The problem isn't confined to California. A study published October 12 in the American Journal of Medical Quality found that the ranks of "safety-net physicians" — those willing to see Medicaid and uninsured patients — appears to be at its limit under current circumstances.

The senior author of the study, Eric G. Campbell, PhD, of the Mongan Institute, commented, "This study raises very serious concerns about the willingness and ability of primary care providers to cope with the increased demand for services that will result from the ACA."

And why are those ranks so strained? As I wrote a few weeks ago:

Last year, a Physicians Foundation survey found that 26 percent of physicians had closed their practices to Medicaid patients because of concerns over compensation and red tape. Kaiser says the number of doctors turning away Medicaid patients is closer to a third. Pharmacists haven't been much happier. Walgreens pharmacies in Washington turned away Medicaid prescriptions because they were losing money filling them (the state relented) and pharmacies did the same in Delaware.

It's hard to see what the administration's end game is here. Even if you buy the conspiracy theory that Obamacare is meant to fail in order to pave the way for some full-blown single-payer health system, based, no doubt, on the thriving French system, there's no road there from here. An entirely government-controlled healthcare system would resemble Medicaid/Medicare writ large. And the Obama administration envisions cuts to Medicare, too, especially in terms of compensation to hospitals. That linked Washington Post article may insist that the proposed cut "does not, however, change the basket of benefits that patients have access to," but it's unclear just who will provide those benefits if they're not being paid.

Deciding not to pay for stuff is a great way to reduce your expenses — unless you actually need that stuff.

Government "thinking" at its finest!

http://reason.com/blog/2013/03/01/ob...avings-stop-pa

[gnadfly]

The AMA is the most powerful labor union in country. Most doctors are not happy with the President, he is reducing their earnings and increasing their taxes.

[JD Barleycorn]

Could the doctors be going on strike? Isn't this the prediction made in Atlas Shrugged? All the people who matter go on strike and bring down the establishment. First the doctors, next the investment bankers (say goodbye to your 401K), the gun owners, the journalists who tell the truth and challenge the powerful, the elderly, the small business owners, etc.

[Whirlaway]

The new GAO study shows Obamacare will be a $6.2 trillion tire around the necks of taxpayers..................... ....and in exchange?

We will get reduced services and benefits !

Thanks Mr. Obama !


http://gao.gov/assets/660/651702.pdf

[joe bloe]

Originally Posted by Whirlaway

The new GAO study shows Obamacare will be a $6.2 trillion tire around the necks of taxpayers..................... ....and in exchange?

We will get reduced services and benefits !

Thanks Mr. Obama !


http://gao.gov/assets/660/651702.pdf

A big part of the way Barry sold Obamacare, was to say that we couldn't possibly balance the budget without getting healthcare costs under control. Barry said that Obamacare would be cheaper than the current system. He obviously lied to us. More than half of the sheeple still support him. It boggles the mind.

[Yssup Rider]

1) AMA is not a union.

2) Not all doctors are unhappy with Obamacare. it promotes and incentivizes NOT GETTING SICK, which of course means fewer gigs for the overpaid subspecialists, like the "ologists". But the primary care docs who actually treat PEOPLE are quietly happy with the plan.

3). Show where Obamacare reduces reimbursement to physicians more so or a more rapid rate than the private plans have done for years.

Sorry, but a bunch a radiologists and anesthesiologists whining because they have to trade in their BWM 7 series for a 5 series doesn't tug at my heart strings. Those are the squeaky wheels of the AMA. The so-called "house of medicine" has been on the brink of self destruction since Bush's first administration (probably before) over the disparity in payment for subspecialists versus primary care physicians.

[Jewish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by JD Barleycorn

Could the doctors be going on strike? Isn't this the prediction made in Atlas Shrugged? All the people who matter go on strike and bring down the establishment. First the doctors, next the investment bankers (say goodbye to your 401K), the gun owners, the journalists who tell the truth and challenge the powerful, the elderly, the small business owners, etc.

I dare investment bankers to go on strike - go on strike from stealing money!!!

[JCM800]

[Jackie S]

Originally Posted by gnadfly

The AMA is the most powerful labor union in country. Most doctors are not happy with the President, he is reducing their earnings and increasing their taxes.

Well, I guess the good ole Docs are finding out that they aren't very special at all, especially in the land where those that contribute are outnumbered by those that are taking.

Welcome to the real world. And get used to it, because in case you haven't noticed, the Democrats pretty well have a lock on the majority of the electorate as of now. And since they will promise the "takers" that they will take from you, and give to them, it's not going to change in the near future.

Aren't you glad you spent all of those years, and dollars, on Med School.

[Yssup Rider]

You really don't know what you're talking about, do you?

[CJ7]

Originally Posted by gnadfly

The AMA is the most powerful labor union in country. Most doctors are not happy with the President, he is reducing their earnings and increasing their taxes.

Fact:


http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-facts.php


Obamacare mandates that Medicaid payments be raised to the same level Medicare pays doctors. While it varies from state to state, primary care physicians will see an average 73% pay increase. This will make it easier for new Medicaid recipients to find doctors willing to take Medicaid.


all of you idiots might want to look up the facts before you insist on being idiots ..

just sayin'

[joe bloe]

Originally Posted by Jackie S

Well, I guess the good ole Docs are finding out that they aren't very special at all, especially in the land where those that contribute are outnumbered by those that are taking.

Welcome to the real world. And get used to it, because in case you haven't noticed, the Democrats pretty well have a lock on the majority of the electorate as of now. And since they will promise the "takers" that they will take from you, and give to them, it's not going to change in the near future.

Aren't you glad you spent all of those years, and dollars, on Med School.

The best and brightest used to go to medical school; they won't any more. Medical schools will be forced to lower their admission standards. If we pay our doctors like fry cooks we can't expect to get quality healthcare.

[CJ7]

Originally Posted by joe bloe

The best and brightest used to go to medical school; they won't any more. Medical schools will be forced to lower their admission standards. If we pay our doctors like fry cooks we can't expect to get quality healthcare.

yeah, the medical profession is really hurting ..


https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/report...nrollment.html

[JD Barleycorn]

You really don't know what you're talking about, do you?

From the mouths of assholes....

No, investment bankers are the people who chose investment options for our 401Ks among others. The good ones make a lot of money and that is evil according to Obama and his socialistic heathens. If they decide to walk away our 401Ks will be left with the not so successful investment bankers. So do you want your retirement headed up by a second or third stringer?

[Yssup Rider]

Originally Posted by JD Barleycorn

You really don't know what you're talking about, do you?

From the mouths of assholes....

No, investment bankers are the people who chose investment options for our 401Ks among others. The good ones make a lot of money and that is evil according to Obama and his socialistic heathens. If they decide to walk away our 401Ks will be left with the not so successful investment bankers. So do you want your retirement headed up by a second or third stringer?

for a change, you're talking out of context (and your ass) again.

I was responding to JackieS's post, which had nothing whatsoever to do with investment bankers or attorneys or the topic of this thread or you for the matter.

Is that what you're responding to, in which case you're full of shit, or are you just looking for another way to ask to see my junk?

Creepy fuck!