Beating the Doctor Shortage
Maybe you or someone you know has experienced this: You turn 65, sign up for Medicare, and then find out that the doctor you've been seeing for the last 20 years doesn't accept Medicare patients. What do you do?
Primary care doctors are in such demand that they can pick and choose who they will see. And as the population ages, the need for primary care physicians grows. Add to that the fact that physicians are also getting older and seeing fewer patients (as well as the fact that under the Affordable Care Act millions of formerly uninsured men and women will have access to health care), and it's easy to see that something has to give; the primary care network in this country is fraying.
"The doctor shortage is worse than most people think," says Steven Berk, MD., dean of the School of Medicine at Texas Tech University.
So, now what? Well, it turns out that a number of solutions are already in process. Chief among them is adopting a "team approach" to primary care. Patients with more routine problems will be increasingly seen by nurse-practitioners and physician assistants, freeing the doctor to spend more time with patients with more serious complaints. You may have already noticed a transition to this kind of thing in your doctor's office.
The Affordable Care Act also authorizes more money to increase the primary care workforce by training more primary care doctors, nurses, nurse-practitioners, and physician assistants. Another key provision: a 10 percent bonus, through 2015, to primary care doctors who offer services to Medicare patients.
But these solutions (while underway) will take time. What can you do until then?
The best place to start is the state medical association. They provide directories that often include new doctors just setting up a practice. They are always willing to accept new patients.
If you are a Medicare beneficiary, go to www.medicare.gov. Under "Forms, Help and Resources" on the home page, select "Find doctors, hospitals and facilities." Type in your zip code and you will get a drop-down menu of medical specialties that will include primary care. These doctors all accept Medicare patients.
Those are just a couple of options. There are others, so don't panic if neither of those is a solution for you.
If you need help or just need a question or two answered on any of this feel free to give me a call.
