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Posted: 6:18 PM Sep 13, 2009
Health Care-Primary Care
50 million new patients? More primary docs a must.
Reporter: AP News |
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2 Comments 
BOSTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's plan to revamp the
nation's health care system is facing a big hurdle with the
shortage of primary care physicians.
Extending health care to 50 million uninsured Americans could
force many of those newly insured back into costly emergency rooms
for routine care if they can't find a primary care doctor.
Massachusetts, home of the nation's most ambitious health care
law, has seen the need for primary care doctors shoot up under a
2006 law that mandates health care for nearly all residents.
The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates the nation
will need to add another 40,000 to the existing 100,000 doctors
over the next decade. The group's president, Dr. Ted Epperly, says
that without more doctors, "it's like giving everyone free bus
passes, but there are only two buses."
Latest Comments
Looks like we are headed "back" to the level of healthcare that was the norm after the Korean War and all thru the early 1960s. You did NOT go the the ER for anything minor, there were 'once a month clinics'. Most people did not have a regular doctor and many never could afford health insurance even then. I remember most families with lots of kids depended on the school nurse - but legalities and school board`s budget cuts have practically eliminated that. Why is no one requesting that EVERYONE with a M.D. go back to seeing at least a few more primary care patients? Is it written any where that a cardiologist, or orthopaedic surgeon, urologist,etc. can NOT include seeing to some primary care needs? As a customer with a flat tire - you would expect any auto tech is capable of changing and fixing your tire. Yes, it is admirable that doctors go and volunteer to help the needy in third world countries -but look at the reality that we are becomming a third world nation real fast.
Hello??? I work in health care and I have known this was going to be a problem from the beginning. Family care physicians are leaving their jobs and finding other things to do because they are having a hard time making any money. Medicare only pays like $38 for a patient visit. The doctor has to pay himself, his staff, his overhead off of this. Do you know how many patients a doctor has to see to make this work? That is why you can not get into a regular family physician anymore. So all the ER and Urgent cares that are swamped taking care of ingrown toenails and stuffy noses ( cause their medicaid pays for it) are gonna be even more swamped. So basically you can kiss getting medical care goodbye. Head to your doctor now and get a check up cause it is gonna be a while before you see hime again.
