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With each passing day, more is discovered about the Affordable Care Act (ACA, Obamacare) confirming all of our worst fears about this law. The majority of discussion regarding Obamacare has been concentrated on issues involving implementation, such as state health insurance exchanges or Medicaid expansion.
It has also focused on the crushing financial implications of the law, such as the 18 new taxes created by the ACA, or the dramatic rise in healthcare insurance premiums, or the projected $2.7 trillion price tag. This narrative is understandable because the majority of people doing the reporting are pundits, talking heads and policy wonks.
The missing piece in this narrative is the havoc that this law is creating in the lives of so many patients. Despite minimal implementation of the ACA thus far, the effects on many patients is already devastating- something very much under-reported.
Last month we learned that cancer clinics were turning away Medicare patients as a result of cuts brought about by the sequester. The cuts would result in a decrease in Medicare reimbursement to these private clinics by as much as 28%. This has forced these clinics to find alternative treatment facilities for these patients, which in some cases may be thousands of miles away from their homes. This is tantamount to a death sentence for some patients, for whom travel is not possible because of both economic and health reasons.
The creation of high risk pools for patients with pre-existing or expensive medical problems was touted as one of the achievements of Obamacare (Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, PECIP). It has never lived up to its expectations. The predictions were that by this time, over 1 million people would be participating, but it stalled at about 100,000 because this coverage was more expensive than anyone had anticipated. And further enrollment was halted because the money ran out. Now it appears that the shortage of funds may jeopardize the continued coverage for those patients currently enrolled.
The GOP leadership in the House of Representatives, sensitive to the needs of these patients, introduced HR 1549, which would transfer money from other ACA programs into the PECIP. President Obama however, threatened a veto if this bill reached his desk. He apparently has little concern for these patients and if it means that they need to be sacrificed in order to proceed with continued implementation of the law, then this may be the price that needs to be paid. Try telling that to the patients though.
Next21View Full Article Hal Scherz Dr. Hal Scherz is the Founder and President of Docs4Patient Care. Most Recent Articles Braves 5, Dodgers 2 Commuters warned of traffic mess for up to 1 week 2 FBI agents killed in training accident in Va. Jennifer Johnson wins Mobile Bay LPGA Classic Obama walks a fine line with Myanmar president's landmark visit Spurs rout Grizzlies 105-83 in West finals opener Official: Va. driver likely had medical condition AP CEO calls records seizure unconstitutional Sign-Up to receive Updates from TH Join the Debate 12 Comments So Far Login in to Post Your Comments Newest First Oldest First sbrown Wrote: May 13, 2013 1:33 PM 2014 will be even more interesting. Many major elements of Obamacare are supposed to kick in. The states have, for a variety of smart or apathetic reasons, not been active in setting up the state insurance exchanges. Perversely this may protect a swath of Americans for a few more years, if their employers continue to carry health insurance as opposed to paying the fine and telling their employees to go to the exchanges for insurance. Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment dheath Wrote: May 11, 2013 6:12 AM I went for my annual physical this week, to the same doctor I have been going to for years. They have always had the nurse take my blood pressure, do an EKG, and then take care of the medical questions. However, now the medical questioning has become so burdensome, that they went streight to the questioning and forgot to do the EKG. Later, my doctor reminded them that they needed to do that. He is a Libertarian. If you think you can trust either of these parties, any of these parties, you need to think again. It is time to get the brightest together and form the right party along the lines of the Tea Party Principles, get on the ballot in all states, put out principled candidates and get the job done. If you haven't read or... Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment Maximus2 Wrote: May 10, 2013 3:41 PM Inarticulate , Sarah? No she was right on! Perhaps the columnist should have talked to some more Doctors, however he wrote a good piece and hit what is all wrong with Obama care except for the fact that health care for seniors with problems will be dropped over board to save his agenda to insure illegals and totally destroy the best healthcare system In the World. Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment mshreve Wrote: May 10, 2013 2:06 PM WHO screamed when 720 BILLION was STOLEN from Medicare to help fund Obamacare. Certainly NOT the AARP. Sequestration resulted in an DECREASE in the INCREASE of spending only. 415 BILLION was cut from PROVIDER payments. Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment mshreve Wrote: May 10, 2013 2:05 PM WHO screamed when 720 BILLION was STOLEN from Medicare to help fund Obamacare. Certainly NOT the AARP. Sequestration resulted in an DECREASE in the INCREASE of spending only. 415 BILLION was cut from Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment Bluebonnet Wrote: May 10, 2013 1:36 PM Remember, this bill was "deemed" passed by Nancy Pelosi, still not knowing what was in the bill. How unconstitutionally corrupt, arrogant and stupid is that?!!And, speaking of health care, the pharmaceutical companies donate heavily to members of Congress. Why don't we know more about what is in these drugs that cause deadly side effects? Do statin drugs cause diabetes? A real winner for pharma. Which drugs cause pancreatic cancer? What named drugs causing heart attacks are still allowed on the market? The accusations are there. Where is the follow-up and data? 10,000 deaths before one drug was removed. Now 80,000 deaths thought from another. Why can't staph be eliminated from hospitals? You see, the health care bill and... Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment None1257 Wrote: May 10, 2013 1:00 PM This is real simple to understand. When you decided that you wanted someone else to pay for our needs and wants, you also gave them the right not to pay. Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment Ronald E Wrote: May 10, 2013 10:08 AM The mission of a physician hasn't changed. We are trained for years to do whatever we can for others to the best of our ability. I will never sell out to bureaucrats who haven't had my 11 years of medical training. If that means dropping all government and private insurance plans, so be it. We are trained to think independently and practicing medicine is a complex interaction that can't be reduced to a cookie-cutter approach.
The ACA will wreak havoc on American medicine, including the unwarranted transition to electronic records that are not ready for prime time.
We have always been patient-centric, though others don't seem to think so.
Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment ryoung292 Wrote: May 10, 2013 9:27 AM Welcome to "Logans RUN!" Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment Charles52 Wrote: May 10, 2013 8:55 AM ObamaCares real name should be POPULATION CONTROL CARE. That is because it was nothing but a major political lie drafted by lawyers for the benefits of lawyers who are politicians and there was never any intentional benefit for people. Pelosi said it all when she gleefully said " let's pass the bill, then we can find out what is in it". That tells us what politicians thinks about what they do...pass junk they know nothing about, then leave the thing open to amendments as time goes on and there in lies the real disasters. obamacare was never intended to lower cost, nor to protect people, but more to contol people, except politicians who were exemted because they know upfront it was a disaster....for them. Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment lgoldhammer Wrote: May 10, 2013 7:25 AM The health care solution is simple: go back to what we were doing before there was a health care problem. Go back to major medical care insurance that is used as insurance was intended: for an unplanned major medical problem with big price tags like surgery or disease. In 1984 I joined the Navy. Before going in it cost me $25 to go to the OB/GYN. I was only making $5-6/hour and could afford to pay this out of pocket. In 1988 when I got out of the service and called for an appointment they wanted $150. I was still making only $5-6/hour, but I couldn't afford to pay a doctor a whole weeks salary to be seen. What had happened in those 4 years to make medical care unaffordable? HMO's. I still only had Major Medical insurance, and... Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment Ann Anon Wrote: May 10, 2013 7:55 AM A lot of us feel the way you do but the Politicians do not feel that way. Don't vote for incumbents. Congress needs new blood. Login to Reply Flag as Offensive Post Comment New comments on this article - click to refresh more Video
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