Doctor retiring

[Bob # 1]

Going to retire in June
He is 60, he teaches medical students.
Been my doctor for 25+ years,he has pulled me thru some tough spots.

90% of his patience are on Medicare.......he does not make a lot of money as one would think.

He said that the new Medicare he has to take 20% cut, plus his insurance cost are high.........

He said it is just not worth it

[Don G]

Going to retire in June
He is 60, he teaches medical students.
Been my doctor for 25+ years,he has pulled me thru some tough spots.

90% of his patience are on Medicare.......he does not make a lot of money as one would think.

He said that the new Medicare he has to take 20% cut, plus his insurance cost are high.........

He said it is just not worth it

The front page of the Roanoke Times in Roanoke, VA has an article that states "Nurse practitioners could become our new doctors"

Our doctor of many years is also leaving..Almost like losing a family member..

[Cane Pole]

I had my checkup visit to the doctor here. He is a young feller and he told me he will have to drop medicare patients ( I asked). He has a staff of 6 nurses and technicians. He is still paying on his student loans. He says he can't make it with that cut since the majority of his patients are Medicare and Tenncare. He will probably move on. We have a shortage of doctors here in rural west Tn.

I am sure there are plenty other doctors in this predicament.

More and more Nurse Practitioners showing up though, but they not doctors.

[Fishing Magician]

Big bottle neck coming soon to gettting seen by docs

A lot are retiring as baby boomers hitting the age that they use more and more medical care..... a lot of docs dropping M.C. patients due to payment cuts, malpractice insurance increases, etc.

Less new docs going into Non-specialty practice

it's all going to be creating a bottle neck to being seen

all the M.C. patients will get shifted to other docs increasing the work load there and backing things up in those practices

medical schools have been maandated to increase there incoming class size to keep recieving fed funding to try and keep a symbolance of ballance

strap in kiddies

[crappieseeker]

DonG, I saw the same add saying most states will start allowing nurse practitioners to fill more doctors roles. It is going to be one nightmare for sure.

[oldwun]

We are quickly becoming a third world country. My Oncologist is leaving in Sept. He has had it fighting the insurance companies and the government.That group now has 4 Oncologist that can barely speak English. Our family Dr is under pressure to add 10% more patients a day in to his already crowded schedule. Cancer drugs prices raise almost weekly. The white count follow shot has risen from $6K 2 years ago to over $10K now. Yet the drug companies with our governments blessing is recording record profits.

[meatdragger]

My brother is a new spine surgeon who just joined a practice in December. 2 months into his job he gets a 20% pay cut from Medicare. To say he was not happy is an understatement. I wouldn't be either if my company told me I was getting a 20% pay cut. Some may say, well he makes alot of money anyways, but he also has half a million in debt to repay plus the government takes close to half of his paycheck before he gets it.

[DrJohn]

Glad to see that most of you guys "get it"....When you graduate with your doctorate there's really NOT a check for million dollars rolled up in your diploma! Remember this thread on ELECTION DAY!!!

[Bob # 1]

My doctor teaches the new interns........for a hospital.......what a waste of talent

[rcfillingham]

I wouldnt be to worried about being seen by a nurse practitioner. Most have 6-7 years of higher education and the ones I work with are as dedicated as any MD, and usually spend twice as much time per patient.If you knew how many non-MD caregivers play a vital role in your health care you would be shocked. NP family practitioners are the future of health care!