Healthcare Reform: How Will It Affect You?

Healthcare reform has Indiana physicians and patients alike talking. Most of us agree that everyone should have access to quality healthcare. However, there are many different opinions as to whether or not the recent healthcare reform legislation is the best solution to our country's healthcare problems. For our patients in Northwest Indiana, most of whom already enjoy access to top-quality healthcare, the drawbacks of the new system may be more significant than the benefits.

Diminished Quality of Care

In Lake County, it is estimated that the new insurance mandate, plus expansion of Medicaid, will give about 75,000 people paid health coverage. This will create an instant shortage of 15-30 primary care doctors. As a result, nurse practitioners and physician assistants will have an expanded role. The demand of the newly covered population will consume same-day appointments with primary care doctors, as well as limited scheduled appointments with vital specialists. Everyone should expect longer waiting times. Your new "doctor" will likely be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

Increased Costs to Patients

While the costs of providing medical care have gone up dramatically, fees doctors are paid for office services have not gone up in years. The new legislation indicates these rates will remain unchanged for another 10 years. As a result, the best and busiest physicians will be forced to charge for services such as returning phone calls, calling in prescriptions, and patient education.

We can also expect an increase in prescription drug costs for most Americans. Although the "doughnut hole" for Medicare patients will be closed, saving older people money on medications, everybody else will actually pay more because the federal government has agreed not to negotiate drug prices with drug companies.

Furthermore, the cost of health insurance will rise for many. Removing restrictions on pre-existing conditions will cause non-smokers to pay for the cancers of smokers, non-alcoholics to pay for the liver transplants of alcoholics, and thin people pay for the diseases of obese people. With car insurance, good drivers pay less than bad, but not with the new health insurance plan. People who could not get insurance before will be happier, but people who had insurance will suffer.
We need to find an efficient way to provide quality healthcare to all Americans. However, the new system will force both patients and physicians to struggle with the costs and difficulties that it adds to our lives.

By: Alexander Stemer, MD

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How healthcare reform will affect healthcare in Indiana from a physician's perspective.