Government Control of Medicine

[AisA]

If you have any doubts about the true effect of government on the American healthcare system, just listen to what doctors have to say. The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons recently released a survey of some 350 physicians and surgeons regarding their experience with Medicare. Here are some of the results:

33% do not accept new Medicare patients;

40% restrict services to all Medicare patients;

(Reasons: “billing and regulatory requirements” ranked first, followed by “hassles and/or threats from Medicare carriers/government, “fees too low” & “fear of prosecution or civil actions”

41% have had difficulty finding a referral physician;

32% say level of service is less than 5 years ago;

22% is the amount of total staff & physician time spent on compliance with Medicare regulations;

Think about this one for a moment. Fully one day a week is spent on nothing but government paperwork.

65% would not take part in Medicare again;

Medicare claims cost offices 50% more to process;

63% would be more willing to serve Medicare patients with unrestricted private contracting;

67% predict more doctors opting out of Medicare;

58% predict severely rationed care;

36% predict a complete collapse;

62% plan to retire at an earlier age than expected 5 years ago;

(Reasons: “Increased government interference,” followed by “increased regulatory burden.” Money ranked number six.)

Physicians have made great changes to their practices to comply with Medicare regulations, most involving less time for patient care or additional cost, including spending more time on documentation, restricting services, hiring more compliance and billing staff, or just quitting Medicare.

Of particular note is that physicians prefer uninsured to Medicare patients, turning them away 50% less frequently than Medicare patients (17% and 33% respectively).

“This regulatory roulette is affecting every patient in the country. Doctors have less time to spend with patients, and are retiring earlier than ever,” said Kathryn Serkes, co-author of the survey . “Medicare expansion will only bring more of the same.”

Serkes says one respondent’s comment sums it up: “ Unless things change soon, the best and the brightest will leave Medicare. It’s simply not worth it .”

The government is destroying health care in America. You can view the full durvey here: 2003 Medicare Survey