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Predictable: Medicaid expansion will cause massive doctor shortage in CA
American Thinker ^ | 02/12/2013 | Rick Moran

Posted on 02/11/2013 9:03:49 AM PST by SeekAndFind

This was a no-brainer from the start of the debate over the Obamacare bill but Democrats refused to listen and the consequences are going to be awful.

From LA Times:

As the state moves to expand healthcare coverage to millions of Californians under President Obama's healthcare law, it faces a major obstacle: There aren't enough doctors to treat a crush of newly insured patients.

Some lawmakers want to fill the gap by redefining who can provide healthcare.

They are working on proposals that would allow physician assistants to treat more patients and nurse practitioners to set up independent practices. Pharmacists and optometrists could act as primary care providers, diagnosing and managing some chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and high-blood pressure.

"We're going to be mandating that every single person in this state have insurance," said state Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), chairman of the Senate Health Committee and leader of the effort to expand professional boundaries. "What good is it if they are going to have a health insurance card but no access to doctors?"

Hernandez's proposed changes, which would dramatically shake up the medical establishment in California, have set off a turf war with physicians that could contribute to the success or failure of the federal Affordable Care Act in California.

Doctors say giving non-physicians more authority and autonomy could jeopardize patient safety. It could also drive up costs, because those workers, who have less medical education and training, tend to order more tests and prescribe more antibiotics, they said.

"Patient safety should always trump access concerns," said Dr. Paul Phinney, president of the California Medical Assn.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; doctor; medicaid; shortage
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For those who don't know it, there is already a serious shortage of GP's in rural areas and Obamacare is going to make that situation a crisis.

With cuts in Medicare payments to doctors and hospitals, as well as reduced payments in many states under Medicaid, treating the millions of new patients who come on board when Obamacare goes into effect will be next to impossible.

There are going to be many doctors and hospitals that refuse to treat new Medicare or Medicaid patients and those individuals are going to have to have great difficulty in finding anyone who will give them health care.

UNLESS OF COURSE, THE OBAMABOTS CREATE A NEW LAW *FORCING* DOCTORS (UNDER PENALTY OF HAVING THEIR LICENSE REVOKED) TO ACCEPT MEDICARE/MEDICAID PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF HOW GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REIMBURSE THEM...

1 posted on 02/11/2013 9:03:55 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

It gets worse, just heard on local radio show that if the sequester happens they will cut 2% from Medicare, that 2% will be on payments to providers.

More doctors are going to quit.


2 posted on 02/11/2013 9:08:00 AM PST by dforest (I have now entered the Twilight Zone.)
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To: dforest

For what it’s worth I have a member of my extended family who is currently in nursing school, and she says they are all being trained now on how to give a complete physical.


3 posted on 02/11/2013 9:20:52 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: SeekAndFind

With the liberal obsession with “equality”… it don’t matter if any service (but especially healthcare) is horrible, just as long as it’s equally horrible… the “owners”(political class)of the “Liberal Plantation” of course, are exempt from any “equality” imposed (enforced top down) on the rest of us… (aka” the “lessers”). One does ponder any “Healthcare reform” that provides for 15,000 more IRS agents and NO more doctors???


4 posted on 02/11/2013 9:21:04 AM PST by FiddlePig
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To: SeekAndFind

more third world FMGs . ha ha


5 posted on 02/11/2013 9:29:43 AM PST by hecht (america 9/11, Israel 24/7)
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To: SeekAndFind

more third world FMGs . ha ha


6 posted on 02/11/2013 9:29:43 AM PST by hecht (america 9/11, Israel 24/7)
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To: dforest

RE: More doctors are going to quit.

What if a law was written making it difficult for Doctors to even quit? (e.g., you get a special and onerous EXIT TAX just for quitting your practice ).

Unconstitutional you say? Heck, wealthy people cannot even give up American Citizenship without being TAXED by the IRS. What makes one think that such a law can’t be passed under this administration with Pelosi and Reed?

If they can FORCE religious institutions to go against their beliefs to provide contraceptives, morning after pills and abortificents, etc., antagonizing doctors should be a breeze ( and no, Justice John Roberts and 4 others on the SCOTUS bench won’t be there to defend your rights either ).


7 posted on 02/11/2013 9:31:58 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: FiddlePig
Maybe nobama can executive order many of the illegal aliens to be "doctors". Problem solved... nobamacare = stay healthy or die . Or (maybe a little more extreme...nobama can drone strike sick people as they seek treatment. (One must think outside-the-box in these challenging times)
8 posted on 02/11/2013 9:32:36 AM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: FiddlePig
Maybe nobama can executive order many of the illegal aliens to be "doctors". Problem solved... nobamacare = stay healthy or die . Or (maybe a little more extreme)...nobama can drone strike sick people as they seek treatment. (One must think outside-the-box in these challenging times)
9 posted on 02/11/2013 9:33:13 AM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: hal ogen

I’ve often joked the “solution” to the healthcare “crisis” is don’t get sick. So you have said a profundity IMHO… ObamaCare “drone” strikes against those of us, who when ill are deemed no longer “useful” to the purposes of our “owners”. Such was said by Rahm’s brother, Dr. Ezekiel Emmanuel (doctor in the Josef Mengele sense?). I inquire to what is the difference in a “death panel” deciding if my malady is worth treatment, and an Antebellum plantation owner deciding if a sick or injured slave is worth saving or shooting. ObamaCare reducing the average citizen is to “livestock”, who once deemed no longer useful (death panel “owners”) is euthanized… a kinda post natal abortion policy.


10 posted on 02/11/2013 9:52:57 AM PST by FiddlePig
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To: dforest

Maybe we can train up enough shamans and witch doctors to cover the shortage, and they may use feather headdresses and drum chants to effect cures.

There still won’t be enough nurse practitioners to make up for the doctor shortage. The new crop of nurses will be fleeing to Arizona and Texas, too.


11 posted on 02/11/2013 9:54:32 AM PST by alloysteel (If conspiracy does not exist everywhere, it exists nowhere.)
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To: alloysteel
I see a couple of things happening....there will be a two tiered system...one for the elites...one for us...and doctors will do a little under the table work for cash...
the trial lawyers got a full speed ahead with Obamacare.....no cuts there...so in time..many doctors will quit...but Obama will bring in Cuban doctors....
12 posted on 02/11/2013 10:06:34 AM PST by Youngman542012
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To: SeekAndFind

Sometimes “I told you so” just doesn’t cut it


13 posted on 02/11/2013 10:07:05 AM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: FiddlePig
ObamaCare “drone” strikes against those of us, who when ill are deemed no longer “useful” to the purposes of our “owners”

I like that idea. Let me see if I can write a parody news article...

14 posted on 02/11/2013 10:10:05 AM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: SeekAndFind

Obamacare is a tax authorized by the Supreme Court, not based on any activity or wealth that you have, but on the mere fact of your birth and continued existence. If they can tax you for being alive, they can tax you for anything, including your refusal to participate in any activity that can be imagined.


15 posted on 02/11/2013 10:22:08 AM PST by LachlanMinnesota
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To: Buckeye McFrog
Nurse Practioners “all being trained now on how to give a complete physical.”

ObamaCare puts distance between what are now Primary Care Doctors and the patient. NPs will take the place of MDs.

Sometimes appropriate, often not. My wife (rare Multiple Myeloma) and my brother-in-law (Rare form of Lyme’s Disease) were both diagnosed by the same highly-competent GP. My granbchildren will have no such resource.

16 posted on 02/11/2013 10:22:43 AM PST by First Light
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To: SeekAndFind
They are working on proposals that would allow physician assistants to treat more patients and nurse practitioners to set up independent practices. Pharmacists and optometrists could act as primary care providers, diagnosing and managing some chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and high-blood pressure.

Next - Obama declares 1,000,000 new Affirmative Actions to be M.D.s.

Crisis solved!

17 posted on 02/11/2013 12:16:09 PM PST by Graybeard58 (_.. ._. .. _. _._ __ ___ ._. . ___ ..._ ._ ._.. _ .. _. .)
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To: SeekAndFind; Holly_P
They are working on proposals that would allow physician assistants to treat more patients and nurse practitioners to set up independent practices. Pharmacists and optometrists could act as primary care providers, diagnosing and managing some chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and high-blood pressure.

Next - Obama declares 1,000,000 new Affirmative Actions to be M.D.s.

Crisis solved!

18 posted on 02/11/2013 12:17:05 PM PST by Graybeard58 (_.. ._. .. _. _._ __ ___ ._. . ___ ..._ ._ ._.. _ .. _. .)
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To: Graybeard58

Actually, the more plausible scenario in the event of a physician shortage is to IMPORT them from overseas.

Here in NYC, I see a lot of nurses from overseas that have taken the nurses exam and after passing, are allowed to practice in the USA.

They’re from all over the world — Philippines (the most), South Korea, India, etc. Many are MALE in fact ( for some reason, male nurses are very desirable, as are male physical therapists).

The same thing will happen for doctors ( as they have happened for nurses ).


19 posted on 02/11/2013 12:20:58 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: Graybeard58

The Future of Obamacare:

Dr. Lexus: “Don’t wanna sound like a d*ck or nothin’, but it says on your chart that you’re f*cked up. Ah, you talk like a fag, and your sh*t’s all retarded. What I’d do, is just like... ha ha... like... aha... you know, like, you know what I mean, like... haha...

“Don’t worry scro’! There are plenty of ‘tards out there living really kick ass lives. My first wife was ‘tarded. She’s a pilot now.”


20 posted on 02/11/2013 12:54:39 PM PST by Mr. K (There are lies, damned lies, statistics, and democrat talking points.)
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