California doctors revolt

New Post Public Reply Private Reply Replies (0) Message Board

Dec 19, 2013 at 7:12 PM

California doctors revolt against Obamacare; 70 percent say they will boycott

by: J. D. Heyes
Wednesday, December 18, 2013

(NaturalNews) Thanks to Obamacare , now - finally - "every American will have access to quality medical care," which, of course, is their "right."

Only - that's wrong. On both counts.

First, there is no inherent "right to health care ," either in the Constitution or state laws, just as there is no inherent "right" to any other privately delivered product or service in the private sector.

Secondly, as this website and others have argued for more than a couple of years, getting "access" to health insurance won't guarantee access to medical care. For that, you'd need access to medical professionals - doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants.

But what if these professionals could not be had? As reported by the Washington Examiner:

An estimated seven out of every 10 physicians in deep-blue California are rebelling against the state's Obamacare health insurance exchange and won't participate, the head of the state's largest medical association said.

"It doesn't surprise me that there's a high rate of nonparticipation," said Dr. Richard Thorp, president of the California Medical Association.

'No other business would' lose money

Thorp has been practicing primary care medicine for nearly four decades in a small town 90 minutes north of Sacramento. The group he heads up represents about one-third - 38,000 - of the roughly 104,000 doctors in the state.

"We need some recognition that we're doing a service to the community. But we can't do it for free. And we can't do it at a loss. No other business would do that," he said.

And yet, that is the expectation of the big government masterminds who brought us Obamacare.

As the Examiner continues:

California offers one of the lowest government reimbursement rates in the country -- 30 percent lower than federal Medicare payments. And reimbursement rates for some procedures are even lower.

In other states, Medicare pays doctors $76 for return-office visits. But in California, Medi-Cal's reimbursement is $24, according to Dr. Theodore M. Mazer, a San Diego ear, nose and throat doctor.

And when your service costs more to deliver than you are being paid, guess what? Two things happen: you opt out of that lousy reimbursement system, or you retire. In California and elsewhere, Obamacare is forcing physicians to make precisely those choices, which will mean less access for a much higher patient load.

"Some physicians have been put in [California's] network and they were included basically without their permission," Lisa Folberg, CMA's vice president of medical and regulatory policy, told the Examiner.

"They may be listed as actually participating, but not of their own volition," added Donald Waters, executive director of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association.

"This is a dirty little secret that is not really talked about as they promote Covered California," Waters continued, calling the state exchange's physician members list a "shell game," because "the vast majority" of them are not participating.

Covered California officials discount any reports that most of the state's doctors will likely stay away. In fact, the Washington Examiner reported, the exchange believes that 85 percent of the state's doctors will participate.

That may not coincide with reality, however. And besides, again - merely signing up for health insurance through an Obamacare exchange could be meaningless.

Some docs moving to 'cash only'

"Enrollment doesn't mean access, because there aren't enough doctors to take the low rates of Medicaid," said Alex Briscoe, health director for Alameda County Health Care Services Agency. "There aren't enough primary care physicians, period."

Of those doctors not participating in the exchanges, the law could also force others to merely decide to opt-out of medicine altogether, as reported by Human Events:

ObamaCare's defenders promised the law would increase patient access to care, but a closer look shows that increased regulations combined with higher demand for health services could cause many physicians to give up practicing medicine.

Still, other physicians are moving to cash only - taking no insurance at all.

"Patients should welcome this development. Not only does the move toward direct payment have the potential to reduce health costs - it could also yield higher-quality care," writes Sally Pipes, president of the Pacific Research Institute, for Forbes in April.

Sources:

http://washingtonexaminer.com
http://www.humanevents.com
http://www.forbes.com

http://www.naturalnews.com/043279_Obamacare_C...ycott.html

Newer

Older

Scroll down for more posts ▼

Top 10 Most Recent News Articles

Patented Foodservice Firm's $1.6M Sale: High ROI Potential

Cooking Up High Margins and Rapid Growth You don’t stumble on opportunities like this every day. A foodservice company out there is posting some mouth-watering numbers, and it’s shaking up the M&A scene. This one’s got patents holding up its brand like a culinary force field, and it’s now on the auction block for a cool $1.6 million. And the numbers? Well, they...

Softcare Facilitates Standards Delegation Visit to Senegal

Ever seen a whole nation's hygiene industry getting a deep dive from not just one, but three major standards bodies? That's what just went down in Senegal. Softcare opened its doors wide to folks from the Senegalese Association for Standardization (ASN), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS). This was no...

viaim's AI Earbuds Snag IFA Awards, Launch On Indiegogo

When the tech cosmos hands you two hefty IFA Innovation Awards, you know you’re onto something. viaim’s Rise wasn't just about slick marketing—it brought home the 'Best in Audio' and 'Best in Design' titles from IFA 2026, proving these earbuds are more than just another gadget. Key Innovations Behind the Accolades IFA is no small affair—it's a major tech trade...

Local Climate Resilience Gains Urgency in the Southwest

Local Impact Means Taking Climate Change Personally If you haven't felt it yet, you will. Climate change isn't just a global headline anymore—it's a daily reality that’s reshaping life where you stand. David W. DuBois, New Mexico's top climatologist, is sounding the alarm this time on the new Net Zero Speaks episode, saying it's on us to use local climate knowledge to...

Court Enforces Design Rights: AEKE Blocked in Germany

Court's Verdict: A Lesson in Design Protection Right out the gate, the Cologne Regional Court didn't pull any punches. Speediance got their 'Gym Monster' design yanked from under AEKE over in Germany. Legal swords were drawn after Speediance spotted AEKE's fitness gear looking a bit too familiar at the FIBO trade fair. Somebody should've told AEKE that a tapped shoulder...

CHiQ Secures AI Award, Elevates Smart Home Living

CHiQ's Big Win in the AI Game In a world where technology rarely stops spinning, CHiQ has carved its own commendable niche. Snagging the AI Home Ecosystem Brand Award at IFA 2026 in Berlin, the brand's knack for pioneering AI tech isn't just a footnote—it's the whole story. The award—enough to make your competitors green with envy—highlights how far they've come in...

PrimeBOT Shines at IFA 2026 with Innovative Awards

A New Chapter in Home Robotics In today's tech-centric world, newcomers often confuse flash with substance. But every now and then, you catch a glimpse of something that might just change how the world spins. At this year's IFA 2026, PrimeBOT didn't just dip its toes into the limelight—it cannonballed right in, drumming up some serious buzz with its PrimeBOT T1 and...

Midea's SpaceMaster Oven: Revolutionizing Home Pizza

Oven Culture: Beyond Simple Baking When it comes to the kitchen, we're always promised more than we get. You know the spiel: the heart of the home, a place for traditions. But honestly? Most ovens are about as exciting as watching paint dry. Often too cramped, uneven, and a pain in the backside to preheat. But then, out of the burning blue, Midea comes along with their...

Evolve & ELITEWHEELS: Shifting Gears in European Cycling

Revving Up for the European Cycling Scene There's something about the open road and the whirr of wheels that gets blood pumping—maybe it's the competition, maybe it's the gear. Either way, this year's Italian Bike Festival is turning the Misano World Circuit into a battleground for cycling's elite, with evolve and ELITEWHEELS charging at the forefront. They're not just...

Penetron Strengthens Midwest, Central USA Support Team

Expansion of Penetron's Engineering Support Eyes are on the Midwest and Central USA as Penetron makes a strategic move to bolster their technical support dream team. They've snagged Sean Allison, a heavyweight with more than three decades' worth of grit and know-how from the construction battlefield. Sean, now stationed in the heart of America's Dairyland—Green Bay,...