Interesting article, while we dentists complain about insurance we have no part in Medicare and most dentists don't even participate in their state Medicade. I'm on Medicare now and when I look at the EOB's the cutbacks on the fee's are brutal, and so far I've not had to pay a dime except as a co-pay on my prescriptions. Doctors Going Broke
It has been my belief for some time that the private practice of medicine is going the way of the dinosaurs. Our hospital is buying up practices and nearly every new doctor that comes to town is coming in as a hospital employee. It is true, as the article states, that doctors are poor businessmen...but even larger group private practices that hire business managers are having a difficult time. Most doctors just want to practice good medicine and make a living. They aren't interested in scamming the system or making medical decisions based on best business practice. But docs on a salary aren't going to be putting in the 80 hour workweek of the old system...trust me.
The incoming class at the UT School of Dentistry contains several recent Medical School graduates. I was told they looked at the future for medical practice and decided they'd rather go the Dental route. Doubt that becomes much of a trend though.
Mary tells me that 25% of her doctors have moved from private paractice to hospital practice in the past 18 mos. Overall that isn't good for communities especially those in lower populated areas. In the end private payors who have been screwing these docs are going to have to pay more for hospitals getting involved. The old adage about the purse strings and calling the tune has never been truer.
My wife is a long time RN and she verifies this as well. Overhead is always on the rise; insurance comp always on the decrease. My own doc has four uniformed personnel in his office. Only one is a nurse; the other three process paperwork. Pure overhead.
Sure are a lot of nurses with relations to this board! As bad as the state of medicine is in the US now, it's only going to get worse as the pressure of socialized medicine moves the industry. Can't wait for Dave's input on this. :roll: