Wednesday, November 6, 2013

For Obamacare to work enough people have to sign up

In states like California and New York where there are many people who are democrats and young they will sort of be lynchpin states for this whole thing to work or not. I believe there are about 10 to 14 states where it working will be mandatory for Obamacare to be viable to continue.

However, there are too many unknowns for example, for doctors in New York where up to 44% of the doctors are refusing to participate because it is completely unknown what they are going to be paid for different kinds of visits by patients. Here is an article from New York regarding this:

Docs resisting ObamaCare

New York doctors are treating ObamaCare like the plague, a new survey reveals.
A poll conducted by the New York State Medical Society finds that 44 percent of MDs said they are not participating in the nation’s new health-care plan.
Another 33 percent say they’re still not sure whether to become ObamaCare providers.
Only 23 percent of the 409 physicians queried said they’re taking patients who signed up through health exchanges.
“This is so poorly designed that a lot of doctors are afraid to participate,” said Dr. Sam Unterricht, president of the 29,000-member organization. “There’s a lot of resistance. Doctors don’t know what they’re going to get paid.”
Three out of four doctors who are participating in the program said they “had to participate” because of existing contractual obligations with an insurer or medical provider, not because they wanted to.
Only one in four “affirmatively” chose to sign up for the exchanges.
Nearly eight in 10 — 77 percent — said they had not been given a fee schedule to show much they’ll get paid if they sign up.
The survey invited doctors to anonymously share opinions about the new health care law, and many took time out of their busy days to vent.
“Obama Care wants to start right away, but who see all these new patients???? Not me,” e-mailed one doc.
Another said, “I plan to retire if this disaster is implemented. This is a train wreck.”
“I refuse to participate in the exchange plans! I am completely opposed to this new law,” said a third respondent.
One doctor recycled the mantra used to attack addictions: “The solution is simple: Just say no.”
One physician was so disgusted, he threatened to taken only cash patients going forward.
“I am seriously considering opting out of all insurance plans including Medicare because of [ObamaCare].”
Some physicians said the pressure on insurance carriers to control costs is leading to rationed care.
“OBAMACARE is a disaster. I have already seen denial of medication, denial of referrals,” one doc said.
And they worry that stingy payments for medical services offered by insurers could put some doctors out of business and force others into retirement.
“Any doctor who accepts the exchange is just a bad businessman/woman. Pays terrible,” argued one doctor.
Said another MD, “Can’t imagine any doctors would be willing to work for so little money? All doctors should boycott.”
Doctors complained they’ve gotten the shaft for years even before ObamaCare.
“I get screwed from insurance companies already. I refuse to get screwed any longer,” one doctor said.
Others said they don’t have enough information to make an informed choice.
“This is a joke. We are flying blind,” said one doctor.

end quote from:

Docs resisting ObamaCare | New York Post

nypost.com/2013/10/29/docs-resisting-obamacare/
Oct 29, 2013 - States face ObamaCare doctor shortage ... Nearly eight in 10 — 77 percent — said they had not been given a fee schedule to show much ...
 
I think by being more aware of the problems doctors, nurses, insurance companies and potential Obamacare patients are encountering, it might be possible to correct those problems wherever possible. I already go to a physician that won't take any health care insurance most of the time already. But, sometimes if you want a really good and qualified doctor this might be what some people have to do.
 
My son who has a degree with honors as a B.S. in Nursing said to me that there are not enough nurses for one thing being trained to make Obamacare work nationwide. So, this will also be an ongoing problem for the U.S. as well.
 
I think for Obamacare to work the whole medical establishment will have to change in many ways. Whether that will happen or not depends upon who makes the most noise: "The people dying without health care and their friends and relatives" or " the health care establishment". It will be interesting to see what happens here but usually unfortunately these things often follow the money rather than the Health of U.S. citizens if history is any guide.
 
So, if you have a relative or friend dying without medical care you need to make a lot of noise so you and people like you will be heard.

No comments: