I keep hearing from wingers who claim Obamacare is "forcing doctors

[louis-t]

out of business." "They're fleeing in droves, leaving private practice". I searched the web for some kind of proof, but the first 15 stories about it are from right-wing sources: rush, Redstate.com, Wash. Times, Forbes, etc. They all allude to it happening already or they're saying "it's gonna cause x to happen". Mostly it seems like propaganda and speculation. There are a few quotes from so-called doctors, but those quotes say "I've read the law and I'm getting out" rather than "I can no longer support myself because of the law". I don't think there is any proof anywhere that shows doctors are leaving because the law hurts them financially.

[JaneyVee]

1. And most of those stories are duplicates of each other.

Have the rightwing ever been right about anything.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. "Have the rightwing ever been right about anything{?}

Why yes, as a matter of fact. But only when they're calling each other unsavory names.

[louis-t]

3. You are right, even the titles are the same.

And they all quote each other.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Anecdotal I know, but I know of one case where that might happen

To be fair, this doctor happens to be in private practice, and does not want to enter into a practice with other docs. Piece of interesting data, near retirement, and the same equivalent age cohort that had trouble making the transition to National Single Payer in Canada.

Younger doctors are not going into private practice as often, and instead are entering into hospital run practices.

The reason this older doc is having issues? The expense in implementing the medical records software. I say that she needs to consider Concierge medicine as well.

[Lars39]

7. I ran across an example of that last month.

In laws were blaming Obamacare until I pointed out that the doc was a cheap bastid, sitting on his gold like some kinda dragon. His practice had been established for decades, with building and furnishings, etc paid for years ago. He just didn't want to spend the money at the ripe old age of 81, so yeah, he's retiring.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. 81 is well past retirment

I am talking mid fifties. A tad different I think. But still the same equivalent cohort that had the issues in Canada. So yes, we will see some docs retiring due to it. It's a fact jack. Will they be the majority? Hardly.

This is a good example of what I talk here about.

Last year, the Medicus Firm surveyed 2,582 physicians and found that of the physicians in training, only 6 percent wanted to work solo whereas 29 percent preferred hospital employment. What does that tell us about how physicians want to practice medicine?

Dr. Hotchkin: These statistics received a lot of press, but they ignore that a majority of respondents wants something other than a solo practice or hospital employment. While 35 percent of physicians in training chose one of these models, the majority chose a different pathway, which leaves a large number who would prefer to work in a group practice or for government, industry, or academia.

http://news.thoracic.org/february-2013/career-trends.php

Oh and a nice graph

[DURHAM D]

5. A sales assistant at Walmart told me a couple of weeks ago

that every single doctor who works at the University of North Carolina medical center is quitting because of Obamacare.

Her source is a friend who works as a billing clerk at the hospital.



One can only smile and move on.

[etherealtruth]

16. One can only smile and move on.

You are right, when confronted by complete and utter ignorance ...

[otohara]

6. My GP Sent Letter Saying Please Buy Supplemental

insurance - to all Medicare patients.

I got a notice from Medicare yesterday and it goes up $32.00 starting 2014 - I was going to go on husband's insurance, we waited a year to add me. Turns out Medicare is a better policy vs the big corporate retail outlet he works for. Sorry Doc, I'm staying with Medicare.

He recently bought a Porsche...so I know he's not suffering much.

[DURHAM D]

14. I don't understand your comment.

Medicare is not going up for 2014. It remains at $104.90 per person unless your joint income is more than $170K.

Are you referring to a Medicare Advantage increase? Perhaps you have Medicare Advantage instead of regular Medicare plus a Supplemental and the doctor is suggesting you switch from Medicare Advantage to regular Medicare with a Supplement (Medigap coverage).

[otohara]

18. Opps, You're Right

Med part D is 132.00

[sendero]

8. Just say..

.. "oh really? Could I have a couple of names, I'd like to talk to them!".

Believe me, they have no names. They are the kind of useful idiots that are lied to daily and believe every bullshit thing they are told.

[alfie]

10. This has been happening for years.

Most of the docs in my area (small, rural...I know them all) are in hospital owned practices and have been for 10 or more years. Larger cities around here most of the docs are in huge practices with other docs. Some span all major specialties within the same "clinic". This puts a lot of the clerical work, billing, medical records, etc in one department for all involved.

[quadrature]

11. Ins. Companies can reduce costs by dropping hospitals ...

and doctors.

[Egalitarian Thug]

12. The parasite noise machine strategy. They've been successfully using it for decades.

Agent A says it to agent B. Agent B says it to media agent C, who publishes it as a fact, using agent B as a source and agent A as verification. Voila! Another thing that everybody knows, but is completely false, is born and becomes another lie we have to spend time and energy fighting against.

Repeat a few thousand times and you have created a nation full of imbeciles that will defend their fantasy to the death.

[Wounded Bear]

13. Been hearing this shit too...

No real verification or numbers, just "It's happening everywhere!"

[janlyn]

15. The sad part is that medical people are some of the ones spreading rumors.

My niece who is an LPN posted on face book last month that her patients are already victims of the Obama death panels and are being denied antibiotics and treatments because of their age. I pointed out to her that since the ACA doesn't take affect till January then the ones denying care are the private insurance companies and Medicare. To prove my point I reminded her that my father was denied an antibiotic by medicare . And suggested she do some independent research. She un friended me!! Typical conservative response, stick your fingers in your ears and say lalala I can't hear you!!!

[Barack_America]

17. Pshaw. This trend started over 20 years ago with the birth of the HMO.

When insurance companies began to force physicians to reduce reimbursements in order to gain "in-network" status. Not a bad idea actually, but completely worthless to the consumer when all of the "savings" go into the insurance company's profit margins.