One of the most appalling aspects of ObamaCare socialized medicine is the grave threat it poses to patients’ access to doctors.
That is deeply ironic because ObamaCare was billed as a way to ensure access to care. Nevertheless, the “reform” is pushing vast numbers of doctors to restrict the number of patients they will see — or to close their practices altogether!
The not-for-profit Physicians Foundation surveyed 100,000 doctors nationwide. Its findings are nothing less than shocking. The survey reveals with painful clarity why ObamaCare should be repealed or, at a minimum, why Congress should de-fund it until there are enough votes for repeal.
Among the disturbing findings, according to The Physicians Foundation:
n Three-fifths of physicians said ObamaCare “will compel them to close or significantly restrict their practices to certain categories of patients. Of these, 93 percent said they will be forced to close or significantly restrict their practices to Medicaid patients, while 87 percent said they would be forced to close or significantly restrict their practices to Medicare patients.”
n About 40 percent said they plan to stop providing patient care altogether over the next one to three years.
n Almost 60 percent said ObamaCare will reduce the time they spend with patients.
Think about those numbers: Most doctors will have to sharply curtail the number of Medicare or Medicaid patients they see! Two-fifths will stop practicing medicine altogether! And most will have to spend less time with patients!
Those factors add up to two horrible realities: ObamaCare will reduce access to medical care, and the care that is provided will be of lower quality.
Republicans in Congress are absolutely correct to seek to repeal Obama-Care. As the plan’s disastrous effects become more evident, we hope enough Democrats will find common cause with Republicans to head off ObamaCare and its destructive provisions.