The Upcoming Doctor Shortage
Brother, you asked for it.
posted by Amit Ghate at 6:46 PM
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Saturday, August 18, 2012
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2 Comments:
The "physicians clinic" I go to for health problems has switched to a business plan in which new patients are given an option of seeing, not an MD, but an Advanced Nurse Practitioner or a Physician's Assistant.
In my year of going there, I have never spoken to a physician, only to an ARNP or a PA. Prescriptions -- for medical tests or pharmaceuticals -- have come from them, and it was they who contacted a cardiologist I refused to work further with.
MDs in a free society might have a lot of competition. They may even now, probably in a cumbersome and inefficient way.
According to the clinic's website, the clinic has made this move as part of an experiment to cut medical costs. Ironically, my medical expenses went up because of precautionary medical tests -- that revealed no problems! For ARNPs and PAs, the rule seems to be: When in doubt, test -- even if the patient does not feel sick.
I have learned my lesson, but I doubt the "medical system" will change itself.
Now that I have described the situation I have seen with my own eyes, I want to make sure I am clear about what I think the solution is.
There should be complete separation of Medicine and State. That means there should be no regulation of medicine, no regulation of insurance, no controls on either, and no mandates. It also means there should be no subsidies -- such as either creating cartels for insurance businesses, special loans for medical students, or licensing for MDs.
The issue is a moral one. I have a right to choose to pursue help from others, in a mutually agreeable way. I have a right to a free market. Government intervention, in any form, violates that right.
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