Page 10 - Delaware Medical Journal - March 2017
P. 10
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
The survey of MSD members revealed that only 20 percent of physicians feel that repealing the ACA would have a positive impact on their practice.
doctors hope to see lower premiums and deductibles for their patients with a substitute plan.
According to our poll, 40 percent felt that repeal would have a negative impact on their practice. The reasons cited included an expected diminished access to care, Medicaid expansion or by tax credits
for purchasing plans through the marketplace. Doctors worry that patients who lose health care coverage would
no longer be able to attend their routine follow-up visits or their preventive care visits, which will result in a more rapid progression of chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. These diseases, left uncontrolled, would ultimately result in a higher death rate. Without coverage, more doctors would lose reimbursement for the services
they provide and, ultimately, will see patients using the EDs for routine care driving up costs even more. In the area
of acute or chronic pain management,
a lack of access to timely care could worsen our already alarming opioid epidemic. The American Psychiatric Association has serious concerns that
an ACA repeal would detract from the treating previously uninsured patients with schizophrenia, major depression, substance abuse, and other psychiatric disorders. We know that untreated
psychiatric disease increases health care
The remaining 40 percent of our respondents are simply unsure of the impact of a repeal as we still do not know how it will be replaced. In the meantime, the AMA has drafted key objectives for any health care reform policy. They are to:
• Incorporate common sense medical liability reforms.
• Continue the advancement of delivery reforms and new physician-led payment models to achieve good outcomes, high quality, and lower spending trends.
Regardless of the outcome, MSD remains committed to providing a safety net for Delaware’s uninsured patients through our Voluntary Initiative Program (VIP), which has been in existence since 1993 and is funded through the Delaware Foundation for Medical Services.
I recently had the privilege of meeting with our new Governor, John Carney,
and was able to brief him on our ACA survey along with other issues of concern to Delaware physicians. The Medical Society of Delaware will continue to be involved in discussions on how to improve the health of our community and how to provide access to high quality health care for all Delawareans during these times of uncertainty.
Prayus Tailor, M.D.
President, Medical Society of Delaware
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Assure that individuals currently covered do not become uninsured and take steps toward achieving coverage and access for all Americans.
Maintain key insurance market reforms, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions, guaranteed issue, and parental coverage for young adults.
Stabilize and strengthen the individual insurance market.
Ensure that low and moderate income patients are able to secure affordable and adequate coverage.
Ensure that Medicaid, CHIP, and other safety net programs are adequately funded.
Reduce regulatory burdens that detract from patient care and increase costs.
Provider greater cost transparency throughout the health care system.
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Del Med J | March 2017 | Vol. 89 | No. 3
