JCHS IPE 300

While you make some good points such as the tax benefiting the 360,00 small employers, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has negative effects for small businesses. With the cap being at 50 employees to be tax exempt, it is limiting the amount of full time employees small businesses want to hire, therefore according to Jim Amos, CEO and chairman of Tasti D-Lite, “It will keep new owners and new openings on the sideline.” Not only will it postpone or even prevent new businesses from opening, it will be bad for the economy and future employment numbers because of that. Marc Schupan,CE of Schupan & Sons stated, "We will look at hiring more closely and could increase temps as opposed to full-time personnel.”

Orsini, P. (2012, June 28). Small Business on Obamacare: No Reason to Hire or Invest. Retrieved from CNBC: http://www.cnbc.com/id/48000806/Small_Business_on_Obamacare_No_Reason_to_Hire_or_Invest

Physicians

This new healthcare reform act that will increase the number of individuals who maintain health insurance could potentially drive physicians away. A poll that was conducted by Athenahealth and Sermo (2010) indicated that 66% of primary care physicians will consider opting out of all government-run programs - i.e. Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act, requires individuals to obtain health insurance; this will add millions of new beneficiaries to the current system which will increase the demand for health care services. With this influx of added beneficiaries the health care provider shortage will continue to grow. The projected shortage of physicians in 2025 is estimated to be 130,600 across all specialties (AAMC, 2010). This new healthcare reform bill is supposed to be budget-neutral which means that this bill will not cost or save the government any money; therefore, providing services will require receiving money elsewhere - this could come from the pockets of the physicians, as well as taxpayers, and other healthcare providers. As Palestrant (2010) stated, "we are hoping more physicians become available to treat the influx of 31 million more patients, [but] the government is implementing a massive reduction in physician reimbursement." It is also apparent that this Affordable Care Act requires health plans to cover certain preventative screenings without cost to the consumers which will place the additional burden on health care providers (Public Sector Consultants Inc, 2010).

The healthcare reform may look beneficial on paper; however, in the long run it will cause a decrease in physicians while there is an increase need for patient care. This will cause longer wait times. Physicians will have a set of government rules and regulations to direct the care that patients receive that could cause physician-patient relationships to deteriorate. Huntoon (2010) stated, "What little joy is left in the practice of medicine today is often found in third-party-free practices, in which the physician is accountable solely to the patient, and care is managed by physician and patient working together." As a physician, I would be against healthcare reform because it will negatively affect the careers and salaries, falsely promise unlimited care to individuals, and turn upcoming physicians away.

AAMC. The impact of health care reform on the future supply and demand for physicians updated projections through 2025. (2010, June). Retrieved from https://www.aamc.org/download/158076/data/updated_projections_through_2025.pdf

Athenahealth & Sermo (2011). Physical Seniment Index. Retrieved from:

http://www.sermo.com/news/press-releases/12

Huntoon, L. (2010). The road ahead in medicine. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, 14(4), 98-99.

Monegain, B. 2011. Doctors concerned about effects of healthcare reform. Healthcare finance

news. New York, NY.

Palestrant, D. (2010) Why physicians oppose the health care reform bill. Forbes.

Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/28/health-care-reform-physicians-opinions-contributors-daniel-palestrant_2.html

Public Sector Consultants Inc. (November, 2010). Assessing the impact of health reform on the

health care work force. Michigan Health Council. (pp. 6-8, 23-24). Retrieved from: http://www.mhc.org/file_archive/CHP_Health_Reform_Workforce_FINAL_Nov_2010_1.pdf

Destroys the doctor-patient relationship

Due to the changes with obamacare doctors have government rules and regulations what will tear apart the doctor-patient relationship. Doctors will have to focus more on government rules and regulations, rather than the specific needs of their patients.

"According to the NPS, doctors fear that the quality of care will deteriorate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and that their reimbursements will go down as well."(B. Monegain, 2011)

"When asked about the quality of healthcare over the next five years, 65 percent believe it will deteriorate..."(B. Monegain, 2011)

So my question is, how can a piece of paper determine how to treat a patient? If this is the case, why do we need doctors? Why can the patient just look at a piece of paper and determine what he/she needs to do next? It's great that individuals will be able to seek medical care, but how effective is the care if your doctor says"I have your diagnosis, let me look at the "manual" and see how to treat you". Sure setting these rules could save the government tons of money. Legislating care by regulations set forth on a piece of paper, rather than allowing the educated doctor the opportunity to use his/her training to assess, and treat, the patient is probably not the answer to Americans being uninsured.

Reference

Monegain, B. 2011. Doctors concerned about effects of healthcare reform. Healthcare finance news. New York, NY

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