Opinion : To the Editor: Obamacare means less care, more costly care

What is our future under the Affordable Care Act? Simply less, and more costly, care - pure and simple.

I have spent the past 30 years in service to the healthcare community on a nationwide basis. I have customers from Pennsylvania to Texas that Duluth to New Orleans. When I hear all the excitement about the Affordable Care Act and the great benefit that will come our way – I simply have to look at my customers, a broad range of hospitals and nursing homes, to know it’s simply untrue. Let me just attempt to sidestep the partisanship part of the argument and allow me to focus on what is actually happening.

To Medicare Patients:

Across the country – hospitals, nursing homes and care facilities are refusing to treat Medicare patients. A few examples:

A March 2013 NPR story describing how many doctors are no longer accepting Medicare patients.

A Galen Institute whitepaper describes how the ACA demands lower payments to doctors, hospitals and care facilities for treatment given, provides for less time with individual patients and floods healthcare providers with new rules and regulations. All of this to the detriment of the patient and the healthcare system.

Mayo Clinics of Arizona stopped accepting Medicare Patients in 2009. As of January 2013 – no change in that policy. Why? Because the reimbursement rage of Medicare is so low – it doesn’t actual pay for the treatment. Here’s a WSJ article about the May Clinics in Arizona as well.

A recent article in the AMA’s “Patient Action Network” explain the nightmare unfolding in the Medicare system as the AFA is implemented – the results on today’s seniors will be devastating.

Just to make sure to dispel any concerns of political favoritism in these articles – here’s one from the “World Socialist “ web site – again stating the mass exodus by healthcare providers from the Medicare system.

Fewer Doctors:

A recent article in the WSJ also talks about a national trend of doctors no longer accepting Medicare patients – again because reimbursement simply doesn’t cover the cost of the treatment.

An MSN article also confirms the exodus of doctors from the Medicare system.

As for the future availability of doctors, a recent Deloitte Center Survey indicated 60% of physicians surveyed would likely retire early given the restrictions and reimbursements contained within the ACA.

Healthcare Costs:

Finally, the promise of lower costs. Today, in a Forbes article, the case was clearly made that while there was a promise given to the American people by President Obama that the average healthcare costs for a family of four would be reduced by $2,500 – they will likely increase by $7,500 instead.

Another recent article in Forbes shows the dramatic increase in healthcare premiums with the enactment of the ACA. These increases have already begun in earnest.

A recent CNN article indicates there are states where premium rates will “Soar”.

As far back as January 2013 the New York Times had an article of insurance companies raising their premiums by double digits to cover their costs under the ACA.

As I roll into “senior citizen” status – I find the healthcare outlook for myself and fellow “boomers” bleak. I see a nation with fewer doctors, fewer hospitals willing to treat my generation and few care facilities to enter when self-care is no longer possible. Bottom line, we’ll simply die earlier.

As for our children – much of the same thing will happen to them. With few doctors comes less access to healthcare. With more regulation and less reimbursement – fewer will undertake the tortuous path of becoming a doctor. And, with increased insurance costs – there will be less income for family, education and to just enjoy life once in a while.

Nothing I’ve listed here is conjecture – it’s been happening since the ACA bill was signed. And, sadly, I personally see little hope in derailing this particular “train”. Just remember – when your medications are not paid for, when treatment is not available, when your insurance premiums increase 40%, 50%, 60% or more, when your employer demands adherence to “wellness plans” . . . . everyone knew that was our path. Don’t pretend to be surprised.

Bill Keller

Vinton