Do you care about the poor? You need to read this:
“One of the most tragic failings of ObamaCare is that it will make it harder for many of the most vulnerable citizens – patients with no option but Medicaid – to get care.
Medicaid is cumbersome, complex, and wasteful – already the worst health care program in the country. But rather than making changes to improve or modernize this program designed to finance care for the poor, the Obama administration is trying to convince states to add at least 16 million more people to Medicaid, including families making more than $30,000 a year.
“That means the poorest and most vulnerable patients enrolled today will be competing with millions of new Medicaid patients for appointments to see a limited number of physicians. Those who have the greatest need and nowhere else to go are likely to have the hardest time getting care….
“First, there simply aren’t enough doctors to handle this influx of new patients…. A recent article in Health Affairs found that nearly one-third (31%) of physicians are not accepting any new Medicaid patients…. A Medicaid card clearly will not guarantee access to a physician.
“Longer waiting lines for emergency rooms are inevitable…. Safety-net hospitals that provide care to the poorest and most vulnerable in our society already are stretched to the limit financially…. To help pay for its expanded coverage, the health law cuts existing payments to hospitals that provide care to a “disproportionate-share” of uninsured patients…. States already are restricting access to drug services for existing Medicaid beneficiaries.”
The Real Tragedy Of ObamaCare Has Yet To Be Felt By The Poor
Grace-Marie Turner
August 21, 2012
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gracemarieturner/2012/08/21/the-real-tragedy-of-obamacare-has-yet-to-be-felt-by-the-poor/