Re: One reason I prefer Universal Health Insurance

Ted,

It may surprise you that doctors are the ones pushing for more med students
and residents.

However the actual doctor supply is determined more by residency slots than
by the number of medical students, because foreign doctors make up the
shortfall and take unused slots.

Here is a link that may give you an idea of what I am talking about from
Sunday's Houston Chronicle.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/5251429.html

The federal government actually has the greatest control over the physician
supply. The supply is controlled via special Medicare funding for 'graduate
medical education', i.e. residency and fellowship positions.

Here is how the Feds shoot themselves in the foot.

Medicare requires doctors willing to see Medicare patients. Since Medicare
pays less than most other plans, a doctor surplus helps insure enough
doctors will be willing to see Medicare patients at the lower rates.

However Medicare wants to cut back on residency positions, when in fact we
need MORE residency positions to accommodate the increased number of med
students expected to graduate in the 2008 -20015 time frame.

By not increasing the physician supply at the residency level, Medicare is
virtually guaranteeing a shortage, and the people impacted first will be
Medicare patients.

Your government, at work.

WCB


<guys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:g0nei3l4v60riio91bi0pq4f88b94jnfc8@xxxxxxxxxx
On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:15:33 -0400, Susan <nevermind@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

x-no-archive: yes

William C Biggs MD wrote:
Folks,

A couple points, and then I'll let this topic die a natural death.

1) I have been referring to primary care doctors,endos, and a few other
specialties


Actually, that's a modification of your original argument.

Susan

I do appreciate Dr Biggs input. I prefer to be open minded.

Currently I have developed a negative attitude about most
doctors. I have a problem that shows some of the worst
about medical care.

Bill Gates is worried sbout hook worms in the tropics. I can say
they are doing well n the US, Maybe because they are
unrecogized here. As I find out more, I am more disgusted.

The issue of health care in the US is acute. Kinda like the fellow
that jumped off the Empire State Building. He said " I am OK so far"
as he passed the tenth floor.

Some of you are too young to have heard the old game of
patient/doctor. ratio so long touted by the AMA. Now it
seems that was a short sighted thing. But the
admissions to medical schools was tightly controlled.

The first attack on this theme was by the Jack Kennedy
administration. It is an interesting story.

In my area there was a control of water well drilling.
The cost of a well went up abouty five times when the laws were
used to limit drillers.

This is good and bad. Controls are probably needed but they
are ued to limit competition. and to enhance the portion of
the GNP that goes to any special interest.

What is right or wrong is an argument that will not end.
The consequences of a special system can be very bad
in health care. But it is necessary.

We hope we have a system that will finally correct abuses
and reach a balanced system.


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.

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