A big reason why practices are closing is because Obamacare is requiring them to have computer charts and billing. This cost is huge, up to a million dollars for some practices. Decreasing reimbursements is another issue. That is why providers are joining up with hospitals. This trend is happening much faster in Washington state.
My family physician, who was only 56, closed his practice this year because of the cost to computerize his office and the reduce reimbursement cost. I am afraid we are going to see a lot of this. It will be hard to get students to go into medicine when student loans cost will be above 6 figures and income will be significantly less.
George W Bush is the one who pushed for the computerized charting,one of the reason I don’t think to much of him.