According to a new survey reported on by the New York Post, “New York doctors are treating Obamacare like the plague.” The poll surveyed 409 physicians and was conducted by the New York State Medical Society. The results were ghastly. Here are the highlights:
- 44 percent of MDs said they are not participating in the nation’s new healthcare plan
- 33 percent of MDs are still undecided about whether or not to become Obamacare providers
- Only 23 percent said they’re taking patients who signed up through health exchanges
“There’s a lot of resistance,” said Dr. Sam Unterricht, president of the 29,000-member society. “Doctors don’t know what they’re going to get paid.” We’re no strangers to resistance. But the feet-dragging happening with Obamacare is ridiculous.
- 75 percent of participating doctors said they “had to participate” because of existing contractual obligations with an insurer or medical provider
- 77 percent of doctors said they had not received a fee schedule showing what they’ll get paid through the exchange
The survey let doctors anonymously share their opinions about Obamacare. It looks like direct care could have a new convert. Says one respondent:
“I am seriously considering opting out of all insurance plans including Medicare because of [Obamacare].”
The complaints were diverse with some calling the program a disaster, others claiming that their reimbursements were stingy. Some docs decried the program, asking, “Can’t imagine any doctors would be willing to work for so little money? All doctors should boycott.” The most rational response that the Post reported was from a doctor who said, “This is a joke. We are flying blind.”
Flying blind? Exactly. That’s what happens when you try to cover up an expansive problem with 1,000 pages of red tape.