Doctors Brace for Health Law’s Surge of Ailing Patients

[PoliticAverse]

Holy Cross Hospital’s health center in Aspen Hill, Maryland, is bracing for more business.

The center treats the uninsured, and has been busy since it opened in 2012 with a waiting list of more than 400 people at its clinic. Now, as a result of the U.S. Affordable Care Act, it’s mulling adding staff and hours in anticipation of next year’s rush of newly-insured patients, many with chronic medical conditions that have gone untreated for years.
Enlarge image Affordable Care Act Literature

Poorly controlled diabetes can cause stroke, kidney failure and blindness. Undiagnosed cancer can translate into complex end-of-life care, and untreated high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks. In effect, the 2010 health law’s biggest promise becomes its most formidable challenge: unprecedented access to care for a needy population when the nation is already grappling with overtaxed emergency rooms and a shortage of physicians.

“When you’re getting people that haven’t had insurance, they have significant health issues,” said Kevin Sexton, president and chief executive officer of Holy Cross Health, in a telephone interview. “A lot of people need these services.

Read the rest at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-23/doctors-brace-for-health-law-s-surge-of-ailing-patients.html

[AZ Mike]

1. Good.

Good for these people who need treatment and good for the job markets wherein these providers exist.

[antiquie]

2. And good they recognize who's coming and getting ready for it. ~ nt

[cbayer]

3. Access is going to become a huge issue as the hordes of people

who have been without care for years seek out treatment.

In retrospect, there probably should have been a phase-in, maybe starting with certain age groups.

Primary care physicians in particular are likely to be completely overwhelmed.

Emergency rooms, on the other hand, should see some relief.

[onyourleft]

4. Relief for...

...emergency rooms would be great; however, they are still the only places open during off hours when more people have transportation.

[cbayer]

5. That's true, but I hope that there will be an increase in off-hour clinics.

As you probably know, clinics, docs-in-the-box and walk in acute care facilities do not have to see indigent and uninsured patients, while emergency rooms do.

That's where I think the relief will come.

[Warpy]

6. Ha! That would have been me a year ago

I got Medicare instead.

Other than not being afraid all the time, I still don't know what to do with it.