Why Become a Member of Organized Medicine?

Physicians have reason to feel angry, fearful and frustrated. Change is here. No matter how we slice and dice the issue of healthcare reform it is difficult to imagine that we can continue to deliver care in the way we do now. After spending almost $2 trillion dollars a year on healthcare we still have 47 million uninsured. In other words, status quo is not acceptable.

Cost of healthcare is out of line. Access to affordable health care is lacking. Hospitals are shutting down and doctors are quitting private practice. There is a shortage of primary care doctors because reimbursements have not kept up with inflation and patients are sicker today and demanding more of the doctor’s time. Despite the gross domestic product topping 20 percent for healthcare, the World Health Organization grades the United States as only the 37th healthiest country in the world.

Healthcare reform is on the top of the political, social and economic agenda. The Senate and the House bills are up for debate and at the 11th hour the country is held being hostage by one Senator at the time of this writing.

Change must be faced with a positive attitude and with the intention of capitalizing on it. Physicians must plan for it so that they become efficient and effective while adding value for our services. We must embrace it since that attitude will prepare us to become successful clinicians.

Our medical societies are and have been our strong voices depending largely on membership and dues. More than any time ever in our careers, this is undoubtedly the time to join and get involved. Healthcare reform is a work in progress and our participation is vital NOW, for primary care physicians and specialists. The Medical
Association of Georgia, our state organization led the NHCR Coalition in Georgia.

MAG’s principles have focused on the sacred relationship of the doctor and patient, that the patient be able to choose their doctor, their insurance plan, be able to privately contract with their doctor and that the doctors be allowed to make decisions without interference.

On December 14, Mr. David Cook, the executive director of the MAG and former Professor of Constitutional Law, appearing at the DMC auditorium under the sponsorship of the DeKalb Medical Society, made an excellent, eloquent and brilliant presentation of the House and Senate Bills HR 3200 and HR 3962 respectively as they stand today. HR 3962 passed the House 220 to 215 and is in the Senate. Sixty votes are needed to close the debate in the Senate as of today.

Offering Medicare to those aged 55 and up is being debated. Public options may be the solution in several states for the uninsured that make more than $75K and have declined to buy insurance. It will be mandatory for employers to offer insurance to their employees or pay penalties. There will be higher taxes for those making over $250K and
an expansion of Medicaid for those making less than 150% of federal poverty level. There is discussion for possible provision for preexisting conditions. Solvency of Medicare is a matter of much concern. The House estimates a Medicare savings of $426 billion as
opposed to $494 billion estimated by Senate.

HCR has many moving parts and is complex. The focus will continue to be quality. Payment for performance and measures of outcomes will prevail rather than procedures and testing. Prevention and early diagnosis will continue to be favored, quality versus quantity and rational rather than ration of care are the words most spoken of it.

Healthcare reform will be admired for monitoring, reducing errors and for ease of transferring records to avoid duplication of services. Medical Homes will ultimately create the efficiencies insurance companies have been predicting for a longtime.

Medicare reports an overhead of 5 percent whereas private insurance companies call $600 billion dollars their management fee? It is no wonder insurance companies can lobby every single day at $2 million dollars a day to fight healthcare reform.

Let us, as physicians stress the importance of personal responsibility. Obesity has reached epidemic levels. This has created metabolic syndrome and adult onset diabetes, arthritis and premature coronary disease adding to the cost of care that can be handled by altered life style. Americans must exercise and eat healthy, stop smoking and practice safe sex.

Some things seem clear, in the absence of HCR, our insurance premiums will hit the roof, more doctors will retire early, more hospitals will close, and Medicare will be bankrupt by 2017. The uninsured will continue to stress emergency rooms and primary care shortage will reach a dangerous level.

Those who missed Mr. Cook’s presentation missed a wonderful opportunity to learn what your county and state medical societies are doing for you. If you cannot be active with us in our fight to preserve our professional dignity and freedom to treat patients with
our best clinical judgment, at least join us in membership. We need your support!