Doctors against Obamacare

Last month, we were informed by the chicks' pediatric specialist that he and his wife would not accept Obamacare or Medicaid. The practice they left would continue to accept both. We had a decision to make. The false security of a medical practice that accepted all "normal" means of payment, or go with the doctor who diagnosed gluten and casein allergies, righted their diets, reduced their meds and built a rapport with them? I sat down with Dr. H and he went over the fees and payment options. He explained that, since they no longer took Medicaid or insurance, they no longer needed 5 employees to handle the paperwork. Their overhead was cut by 62%. They are also practicing out of their home office. Again, overhead cut. They still have admitting privileges at all three hospitals, still have a working relationship with the two top labs, and still work with all pharmacies. The only changes would be handling the insurance claims with the hospitals and labs directly.

I told him I understood his decision about insurance, but questioned the decision to drop Medicaid. He said it wasn't a decision. Under Obamacare, the requirements placed on physicians treating Medicaid patients had become Draconian. Dr. H's family escaped from East Germany in the 40's; he knows Draconian. He was not comfortable with the level of intrusiveness in his patients' lives, and knew the quality of care he could give them would suffer. Understand, a large percentage of his patients had either CHIPS or Medicaid because of the nature of insurance and Autism. He's working with these families on a sliding fee scale and payment plans. He is that dedicated. He jokingly/seriously said he'd accept chickens if it came to it. He also told me they weren't the only ones to make this move; and after the second wave of destruction hits with the employer mandates, he expects even more.

Needless to say, we're staying with Dr. H.