Well, it's broader than Obamacare. Medicare/Medicaid as turd party payers have been squeezing physicians as reimbursements have been cut and costs have swelled. But their fees were not that great to begin with. The compliance burden is most untenable for many doctors in pvt practice, set in motion some years ago by well-meaning busy bodies upon all the industry, and has accelerated within the last 3 years under a largely Congress/ Marxist President. Plenty of Republicans supported centralized administration of HC, too, though. For primary care docs concierge based practices are a viable alternative and some are thriving, they just have to learn to operate like any prudent business person; unfortunately that model won't fly with surgeons, oncologists and the like. My BIL is a General Surgeon(only 55)-- detests the industry at this point; he's retiring soon and has steered his college-aged kids well away from medicine.
His replacement, a Witch doctor from the Caribbean is poised to set up shop in a nearby hut, I understand. Oddly, he is said to shun the usual technological trappings of modern HC and only asks for access to beakers, potions, gauze, sewing kits, and dolls. Talk about leveraging efficiencies!.
Stay healthy.
My GP, who’s in his early 50’s, told me he has one more year and then he’s “Outta here!”
His private practice group has had to join a larger group just to keep their heads above water and comply with all the electronic data requirements.
I think because compensation per visit is so poor they’re piling in more and more patients on their schedules. I can’t get in to see my GP for 6 weeks...if an emergency comes up, I have to see the Nurse Practitioner.