Lack of Doctors May Worsen as Millions Join Medicaid Rolls

The New York Times ^ | November 28, 2013 | Abby Goodnough

[E. Pluribus Unum]

SAN DIEGO — Dr. Ted Mazer is one of the few ear, nose and throat specialists in this region who treat low-income people on Medicaid, so many of his patients travel long distances to see him.

But now, as California’s Medicaid program is preparing for a major expansion under President Obama’s health care law, Dr. Mazer says he cannot accept additional patients under the government insurance program for a simple reason: it does not pay enough.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Sooner or later Liberals/Progressives/Socialists/Communists run out of other people's goods and services to redistribute.

[headstamp 2]

The Medicaid rolls hyper-expansion is going to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back among other things.

The sheer numbers from this boondoggle are going to have to be reckoned with one way or another.

I still think this is the avenue the left will take into single-payer as ObamaCare crashes and burns.

[mountainlion]

When the non liberals take to the voting booths and demolish the current agenda we will need many mental health professionals to medicate the loony left.

[kabar]

Or they may pass a law that orders all doctors to take Medicare and Medicaid patients. The shortage of doctors will be made up by importing millions of doctors from the Third World.

[dfwgator]

The "Docter" will see you now.

[kabar]

The health care law seeks to diminish any access problem by allowing for a two-year increase in the Medicaid payment rate for primary care doctors, set to expire at the end of 2014. The average increase is 73 percent, bringing Medicaid rates to the level of Medicare rates for these doctors.

[DJ MacWoW]

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[DaxtonBrown]

Just now they are figuring this out? You will be paying for healthcare that has no doctors.

[JPG]

These doctors have a lot of nerve expecting to be paid. Just because they invested a lot to become learned and proficient in the healing arts is no reason to expect compensation...it's all supposed to be free. Hail, Obama.

[what's up]

Or they may pass a law that orders all doctors to take Medicare and Medicaid patients

Which is what Hillary was proposing in the 90's.

[steve86]

Dr. Urrea said that when he recently tried to refer a Medicaid patient with a cornea infection to another eye specialist, he was initially informed that the specialist could not see the patient until February. “And this is a potentially blinding condition,” he added.

So this is just like the UK or Canada now, maybe worse.

[steve86]

Thanks for highlighting the information on the coming change to payment rates, I was not aware of that.

Table showing current Medicare vs. Medicaid fee rates, by state:

http://kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/medicaid-to-medicare-fee-index/

[steve86]

And specialists aren’t going to see high-deductible exchange patients either unless paid up front.

[silverleaf]

single payers still need a doctor

what next: nationalization of the profession?

If you think government workers are efficient and hard working, wait until your doctor becomes one.

[SC DOC]

I suspect a bit of sarcasm, and would like to expand on the cost of becoming a physician. link

[headstamp 2]

“what next: nationalization of the profession?”

Yes, they’ll be called “Government Clinics”.

As long as you don’t mind waiting on line for your five minutes with the horse doctor.

[musicman]

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[COBOL2Java]

Or they may pass a law that orders all doctors to take Medicare and Medicaid patients. The shortage of doctors will be made up by importing millions of doctors from the Third World.

Hey, everyone will have "health care" - at least, it will resemble health care.

Behold your future, America! A clinic just like this in every neighborhood! Isn't that nice?

[silverleaf]

um, no, to get to a doctor, first you must make it past gatekeeper Nurse Ratched who obtained her nursing assistant degree in Pakistan

[RockyTx]

simple solution to any supposed shortage
of doctors.....

food rationing