Trend Toward Concierge Medicine + Obamacare With a Flat Supply of MDs = Pending Doc Shortage?

Carpe Diem ^ | 04/19/2011 | Mark J. Perry

[SeekAndFind]

From today's Boston Globe (via Newsalert): "More Doctors Gravitate Toward Boutique Practice":

"Concierge medicine is expanding as more doctors — and patients — tire of assembly-line primary care, opting for something more personal, and pricey. Concierge doctors care for a small number of patients who agree to pay an annual fee on top of insurance — $1,500 to $1,800 — in return for fast, unlimited access to the physician and to extra services like a comprehensive wellness plan. Patients also enjoy more leisurely appointments than the 15-minute visits that are now standard for most primary care doctors.

The numbers are still very small — a survey commissioned by a congressional agency last year identified 756 concierge medical doctors in the United States, up from 146 in 2005. And Florida-based MDVIP, a company that helps physicians set up these practices, said it will add six new MDVIP doctors in the Boston area this year, increasing its physicians statewide to 16.

But even a tiny number of doctors leaving traditional offices for boutique practices — out of thousands of primary care physicians — is enough to make some health care industry leaders nervous. They worry that more doctors will follow as insurers and government payers cut fees and hem in providers with regulations. And when even one doctor makes the switch, there are substantial side effects, leaving hundreds of patients to scramble for a new physician."

MP: The chart above of medical school graduates (AAMC data here) on an annual basis back to 1980 shows why the trend toward concierge medicine might present some future problems for the health care industry and Obamacare: the number of medical school graduates has been flat for 30 years, while the U.S. population has increased by 37.4% from 226.45 million in 1980 to 311.256 million today.  As more physicians abandon high-volume, paperwork-intensive practices for low-volume concierge practices, and as more Americans are soon forced into Obamacare, where will the doctors come from?

[Lazlo in PA]

People are not going to sit around while the gov’t takes away their quality of health care and doctors certainly are not going to be forced to make minimum wage. What do people expect to happen?

[Paladin2]

"What do people expect to happen?"

Visit their unicorns instead?

[Boardwalk]

Also the Doctors can be “drafted” and redistributed around the world.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Question: "...where will the doctors come from? "

Answer: Haiti, Bangladesh, Guatemala, Detroit, Nigeria....!

[TheOldLady]

Spend a Lot of Time at Free Republic?
Get a Lot of Information?

Donate what you can afford

Or sign up to donate monthly
and a sponsoring FReeper will donate $10

Urgent: Save Lazamataz! Donate today

[trapped_in_LA]

I already do this for my son who has autism. The doctors that specialize in treatment for this usually do not take insurance so you’re paying the $/hr to see the doctor. World of difference in how the doctor treats you and I like it much better than when I go to a regular doctor where I’ve got 5 minutes with him if I’m lucky versus as much time as I want to pay for with the other doctor. Of coarse you have to have the money to do that but that’s what Americans used to do before all this socialized medicine was implemented.

[The Great RJ]

Under Obamacare you will likely not be seen by a doctor, but wait in line for a 10 minute visit with a physician's assistant or nurse practitioner who based on government guidelines may or may not refer you to see a real doctor. You will wait weeks if not months to see a doctor or specialist who again will make treatment decisions based on government guidelines. If you are a senior citizen based on your age and medical condition you may be denied many treatment options. Welcome to socialized medicine.