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发帖数: 29846 | 1 By Katherine Hobson
A new survey of U.S. physicians finds they are decidedly pessimistic about
the health-care overhaul law, with 65% saying it will contribute to a
worsening of health-care quality over the next five years.
The survey, from Thomson Reuters and HCPlexus, which makes management
products for physicians, covers responses from nearly 3,000 physicians. It
was conducted — by fax — last fall.
Only 18% said they felt health-care would improve, with 17% seeing no change
. “The inclusion of several exclamation points in the responses indicate
the strong feelings many physicians have regarding the negative effects they
expect from” the new law, the report says.
Physicians also said primary-care docs and nurse practitioners would both
have a big role in treating the 32 million Americans who will eventually be
covered because of the new law. And they overwhelmingly (74%) said they felt
physician reimbursement would become “less fair” under the law. Among the
survey’s other findings:
* Some 58% believe the health law will have a negative overall impact on
patients. (Pediatricians and psychiatrists were more optimistic, while
surgeons and ophthalmologists were the most pessimistic.)
* Looking specifically at the impact of the health-care law on
physicians, 78% predicted a negative impact, and 8% a positive one.
* Opinions were more mixed on electronic medical records. Some 39% of
responding physicians said they have a positive impact on patient care, 37%
were neutral and 24% said EMRs have a negative impact on the quality of care.
* One interesting point: 45% of physicians had no idea what an
accountable care organization is, despite the policy-circle buzz about them.
* Just over 900 survey respondents were primary-care physicians (that is
, family practitioners, general practitioners or internists). The survey
also covered 245 pediatricians, 157 OB-GYNs and 74 cardiologists, among
other specialties.
Meantime, consumer research conducted by Thomson Reuters earlier in the year
found that people with the lowest income are the most optimistic about what
health-care overhaul will eventually do for them, while higher-income
consumers are generally less optimistic about the benefits of the law. (
Those in the highest income bracket, however, had a less negative view.) |
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