The headline in the AAFP News Now goes "National Demand for Primary Care Physicians Continues to Outstrip Supply". Simple and obvious enough. More PCPs are needed. Less are going into the field. And there is more and more so-called interest by hospitals to hire family docs, etc. The conclusion, obviously, is that with less supply and more demand that it would result in vigorous competition to hire family physicians which would lead to higher and higher pay, right? Uh...no. Somehow, our healthcare system, in its infinite wisdom, has figured a way to throw the most basic economic theory we have on its head.
In my opinion, the only way this travesty can be fixed is for family docs to walk. That doesn't mean to NOT see patients but to walk away from Medicare, Medicaid and Managed Care (the three Ms of Misery). They have colluded to screw us, plain and simple. Going "cash pay" would change everything. We would actually be cheaper for patients, be able to spend more time with them, and be much happier in the long run.
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