[[ New definition of 'doctor' may as well include Witches. Vampires, Werewolves, Voo-Doo Priestesses, and Gang-Bangers. ]]
FEBRUARY 15, 2013**** California's "Solution" To Its Doctor Shortage**** By Ashley Brooks**** 2/11/2013**** **** California has been at the forefront of ObamaCare implementation, but state lawmakers are facing a major obstacle: There aren’t enough doctors in the state to treat the expected influx of newly-insured patients.**** A government council has recommended<http://townhall.com/tipsheet/ashleybrooks/2013/02/11/californias-solution-to-its-doctor-shortage-n1509926/%E2%80%9D> a physician-to-population ratio of 60 to 80 primary care doctors per 100,000 residents. Only 16 of California’s 58 counties reach this recommended supply of primary care physicians.**** With ObamaCare, it’s only going to get worse.**** The huge influx of newly-insured patients with ObamaCare is not the only reason for this lack of doctors. In a recent Physicians Foundation Survey<http://townhall.com/tipsheet/ashleybrooks/2013/02/11/californias-solution-to-its-doctor-shortage-n1509926/%E2%80%9D>, 13,575 doctors were asked how the passage of ObamaCare has affected their feelings about the future of healthcare in America. 59.3% of those surveyed said they were “less positive” about the future of American healthcare.**** More than half of these physicians plan to cut back on patients, switch to cash only, or quit in the next three years. In fact, 60% of doctors surveyed said they would retire today if they could.**** So, what’s California’s solution to this lack of doctors?**** Redefine who can provide healthcare. Broaden the definition<http://townhall.com/tipsheet/ashleybrooks/2013/02/11/californias-solution-to-its-doctor-shortage-n1509926/%E2%80%9D> of “primary care provider” to include physician assistants, pharmacists, and even optometrists.**** Doctors say this could greatly threaten patient safety. But, at a meeting for healthcare advocates this past December, Diana Dooley, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency,said<http://townhall.com/tipsheet/ashleybrooks/2013/02/11/californias-solution-to-its-doctor-shortage-n1509926/%E2%80%9D> “We're going to have to provide care at lower levels. I think a lot of people are trained to do work that our licenses don't allow them to.”**** What’s more important: access to care or patient safety?**** National Conference of State Legislatures<http://townhall.com/tipsheet/ashleybrooks/2013/02/11/californias-solution-to-its-doctor-shortage-n1509926/%E2%80%9D> has reported about 350 laws altering the scope of practice of health professionals have been enacted nationwide in the last two years.**** The California Medical Association says healthcare professionals should not exceed their training, but they have a different solution: Increase funding to expand participation in a loan repayment program for recent medical school graduates. The hope is that such a program may provide an incentive for these new doctors to practice in under-served communities in order to pay off their loans.**** Regardless, such a program cannot increase the number of physicians in the short-term. According to Paul Hensler, Kern Medical Center’s Chief Executive, California is “going to have to get a whole lot more creative about how care is provided.”**** -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
