Report: US Could Face Massive Physician Shortage Under Obamacare

[Ernie]

Before the peanut gallery starts screaming "ahh, Newsmax", please note the study was performed by Georgetown University.

Report: US Could Face Massive Physician Shortage Under Obamacare
Wednesday, 14 Nov 2012 07:21 AM

By Paul Scicchitano
A new study predicts that Obamacare could leave Americans with a shortage of primary care physicians by the year 2025¸ reports the National Monitor.

“Population growth will be the greatest driver of expected increases in primary care utilization. Aging and insurance expansion will also contribute to utilization, but to a smaller extent,” the study concludes, according to the publication.

Researchers from Georgetown University and the Robert Graham Center, Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care blame the possible massive shortage of physicians on the advent of Obamacare and an aging population.

Researchers project that the U.S. will need an additional 52,000 primary care physicians in 13 years or face the prospect of millions of Americans without access to healthcare.

The researchers warn that the shortage could begin to put pressure on the healthcare system earlier than 2025 as baby boomers age and physicians retire.

“The healthcare consumer that values the relationship with a personal physician, particularly in areas already struggling with access to primary care physicians should be aware of potential access challenges that they may face in the future if the production of primary care physicians does not increase,” warns Dr. Andrew Bazemore, director of the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Primary Care who co-authored the study, reports the National Monitor.

The publication noted that the total number of office visits to primary care physicians will likely increase from 462 million in 2008 to 565 million in 2025.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/stu...1/14/id/464028

[Winstonbiggs]

The shortage has been happening for years before Obama care. We will simply import more doctors from other countries who will become loyal Democrats.

[HessStation]

Originally Posted by Winstonbiggs

The shortage has been happening for years before Obama care. We will simply import more doctors from other countries who will become loyal Democrats.

So it took the first post to already give the guy an excuse.

[PlumberKhan]

Originally Posted by HessStation

So it took the first post to already give the guy an excuse.

Here's an article from 2005:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar...thcare_crisis/

Here's one from 2004:

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/200...5/prl20105.htm

Here's one from 1993:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...shortage&hl=en

Here's one from 1988:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...shortage&hl=en

Here's one from 1972:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...shortage&hl=en


Derp on, brother. Derp on.

[parafly]

Originally Posted by HessStation

So it took the first post to already give the guy an excuse.

It's not an excuse, it's a fact. This is not a US or Obamacare problem, it's a societal problem which stretches across the globe.

[Ernie]

Originally Posted by parafly

It's not an excuse, it's a fact. This is not a US or Obamacare problem, it's a societal problem which stretches across the globe.

It is a US and Obamacare problem. Many physicians will leave the field prematurely because of it. Who will see all of these patients?

[HessStation]

Originally Posted by PlumberKhan

Here's an article from 2005:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar...thcare_crisis/

Here's one from 2004:

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/200...5/prl20105.htm

Here's one from 1993:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...shortage&hl=en

Here's one from 1988:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...shortage&hl=en

Here's one from 1972:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...shortage&hl=en


Derp on, brother. Derp on.

*DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERPZZ for Khan*

The article is about the impact Obamacare will have on the Physician shortage. That it will take an existing problem and makes it worse. What does any of these links have to do with that.
Is this going to scare off more young people from becoming doctors? Are the majority of doctors in favor of it?

http://forloveofgodandcountry.com/20...-by-obamacare/

obviously you can find articles/quotes/threads/blogs for and against it.
What it's impact on the primary health physician, will working more for less have a positive impact in quality for preventive care and how will specialists reimbursement schemes work.

[JetPotato]

Originally Posted by parafly

It's not an excuse, it's a fact. This is not a US or Obamacare problem, it's a societal problem which stretches across the globe.

This is the equivalent of saying "Global warming is already a problem, so let's increase carbon emissions into the atmosphere"

[Axil]

Originally Posted by JetPotato

This is the equivalent of saying "Global warming is already a problem, so let's increase carbon emissions into the atmosphere"

I know right? It's terrible how man has accelerated global warm- ... er... i mean... Cooling?

[DDNYjets]

Hospitals will become the DMV.

[parafly]

Originally Posted by Ernie

It is a US and Obamacare problem.

No, it's not. There are countless articles written over the years predicting worldwide health worker shortages around the globe.

Originally Posted by JetPotato

This is the equivalent of saying "Global warming is already a problem, so let's increase carbon emissions into the atmosphere"

Disagree. A better metaphor would be "Global Warming is already a problem, so let's not pretend that yet to be released carbon emissions are primarily to blame."

[PlumberKhan]

Originally Posted by DDNYjets

Hospitals will become the DMV.

Wait until a hospital requires you to fill out paperwork when you're there.

<scary music>

[Axil]

Having read the article, this seems like a tough sell to me.

We're supposed to dislike Obamacare because it will accomplish it's objective of getting including more people in the healthcare system, and thus require more doctors?

No one who supported Obamacare is going to feel like that is a negative consequence.

There are a lot of reasons to dislike Obamacare. This one sucks.

[Winstonbiggs]

Originally Posted by Ernie

It is a US and Obamacare problem. Many physicians will leave the field prematurely because of it. Who will see all of these patients?

Little brown doctors from India, Pakistan, South America and Cuba.

[JetPotato]

Originally Posted by parafly

Disagree. A better metaphor would be "Global Warming is already a problem, so let's not pretend that yet to be released carbon emissions are primarily to blame."

So, again, by this logic, you'd be fine with increasing future emissions because the problem is already established.

Without question, this law increases our supply of patients and decreases supply of doctors. The latter is conveniently overlooked/ignored by its supporters.

[PlumberKhan]

Originally Posted by JetPotato

So, again, by this logic, you'd be fine with increasing future emissions because the problem is already established.

Without question, this law increases our supply of patients and decreases supply of doctors. The latter is conveniently overlooked/ignored by its supporters.

What was causing the shortages before Obamacare was enacted?

[kennyo7]

Why dont you read the actual article instead of Newsmax's editorialized, misleading version of it.

http://annfammed.org/content/10/6/503.full

The author's conclude " Population growth will be the greatest driver of expected increases in primary care utilization. Aging and insurance expansion will also contribute to utilization, but to a smaller extent".

If you read the article carefully you will see that the authors make an argument that too many graduating physicians specialize rather than go into primary care and that the shortage they are predicting is in PRIMARY CARE physicians not ALL physicians.

Also, nowhere in the article do the authors crticize Obamacare or argue that its a major contributor to the Projected Primary Care Physician Shortage. In fact they praise that Obamacare has included provisions to increase the attractiveness of Primary Care to graduating medical students and residents.

Newsmax (as expected) has completely distorted the study to make another warantless attack on Obamacare.

[JetPotato]

Originally Posted by kennyo7

Why dont you read the actual article instead of Newsmax's editorialized, misleading version of it.

http://annfammed.org/content/10/6/503.full

The author's conclude " Population growth will be the greatest driver of expected increases in primary care utilization. Aging and insurance expansion will also contribute to utilization, but to a smaller extent".

If you read the article carefully you will see that the authors make an argument that too many graduating physicians specialize rather than go into primary care and that the shortage they are predicting is in PRIMARY CARE physicians not ALL physicians.

Also, nowhere in the article do the authors crticize Obamacare or argue that its a major contributor to the Projected Primary Care Physician Shortage. In fact they praise that Obamacare has included provisions to increase the attractiveness of Primary Care to graduating medical students and residents.

Newsmax (as expected) has completely distorted the study to make another warantless attack on Obamacare.

Your spin is of no less bias than that of Newsmax. None of this disputes the facts previously presented here.

It does not matter if the effect is of greater extent than population growth. It remains true that Obamacare does increase the rate of this problem. End of story.

[kennyo7]

Originally Posted by JetPotato

Your spin is of no less bias than that of Newsmax. None of this disputes the facts previously presented here.

It does not matter if the effect is of greater extent than population growth. It remains true that Obamacare does increase the rate of this problem. End of story.

Spin? WTF are you talking about. Read the f'n paper. There is no spin, just the results of the study.

What is spin is the Newsmax article title "US Could Face Massive Physician Shortage Under Obamacare". That shortage exists with or without Obamacare. Read the study.

I like how the Newsmaxx article makes the statement:
"Researchers from Georgetown University and the Robert Graham Center, Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care blame the possible massive shortage of physicians on the advent of Obamacare and an aging population".

The truth is, the study blames population growth and to a lesser extent the aging population and insurance expansion.

Those are not my words. Those are the words of the authors who actually did the study

[Winstonbiggs]

Originally Posted by JetPotato

Your spin is of no less bias than that of Newsmax. None of this disputes the facts previously presented here.

It does not matter if the effect is of greater extent than population growth. It remains true that Obamacare does increase the rate of this problem. End of story.

Obamacare addresses the need for more primary care physicians directly.

http://azstarnet.com/business/local/...92339d7c7.html

The law helps to pay for more residency slots at hospitals for medical students planning careers in primary care, and at community health clinics. It provided $1.8 billion for "medical homes," practices in which physicians agree to monitor and coordinate their patients' care by specialists and others.

It also created bonus payments for primary-care doctors who treat Medicare patients, and raised payments for primary-care doctors in Medicaid to match higher Medicare rates.

"The legislation without a doubt made a conscious effort to shift the paradigm in delivery to support a foundation of primary care," said Shawn Martin, a vice president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Glen Stream, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said the law pays him more for treating Medicare patients at his practice in Spokane, Wash. He said he sees fewer people declining recommended preventive tests and screenings, like mammograms and colonoscopies, because the law requires insurers to cover such procedures without co-payments.

"There's very positive features in the bill for family medicine," Stream said.

He wasn't spinning he has a very good understanding of the issue.