Paging Dr John Galt

Unless you're a senior, you may not be aware that many providers don't accept Medicare; this means that, perhaps by design, the Medicare (MC) provider "network" is limited. This can be an issue if, when you turn 65, your family doc for the past 20 years is no longer (easily) accessible.

"So what's new, Henry," you may ask, "why bring that up now?"

Because one of the "solutions" currently on the table is the so-called Public Option, and a lot of providers are beginning to say that they're not going to accept PO patients, either. Dr. Alfred Bonati, who heads up the American Society of Medical Doctors, says:

"(A) nationwide, nonpartisan poll of physicians this month found that a full 70 percent oppose the health care reform proposals under consideration by Congress. Sixty-six percent feel that a government-run health insurance plan would restrict doctors' ability to give the best advice and offer the best care possible to their patients. Perhaps most importantly, 60 percent said they would not accept new patients covered by a government insurance plan ." [ed: emphasis added]

That's a lot of doc's who'll be refusing new patients. It may also throw cold water on the gummint's projected numbers regarding how many folks will actually sign up for such plans.

Of course, the fed's could just pass a law that requires doc's to take on PO patients. Think it can't happen? Of course it can. After all, is it such a great leap from requiring health insurers to take on anyone and everyone that applies, regardless of health, to mandating that physician's treat whomever shows up on their practice's doorstep?

Of course it's not.

Now why would these doc's dig in their (collective) heels on this issue? It's simple, really:

"Hundreds of auto dealers in the New York area have withdrawn from the government's Cash for Clunkers program, citing delays in getting reimbursed by the government, a dealership group said Wednesday ... they cannot afford to offer more rebates. They're also worried about getting repaid."

Just sub in "doctor" for auto dealer, and you begin to get the picture.

If enough physicians (and, of course, other providers) publicly state from the outset that they're not signing on, what do you think happens to the PO? And if the PO is an integral part of the "reform" (which, who knows, it may or may not actually be), then how's that Hope and Change going to work out?