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Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (14089)	3/7/2010 7:57:07 PM
From: skinowski	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

Many years ago, in the 90's, I participated in running a large medical group which had a "total risk" arrangement with one of Medicare carriers. I estimated back then that historically Primary care docs received about 6% of the Medicare funding, and that in recent years that proportion was in fact declining. Naturally, the costs of running the practice was included in that amount. I don't know where things stand today, but I believe it is considerably less than those 6%. The problem of Primary care is hiding in full view - it is grossly underfunded. Since the government is determined to keep cutting the family doc's and Internist's fees (with OR without the "reform"), the survival of this central segment of healthcare fully depends on an input from outside "market forces". Retainer practice is one such possibility. A relatively small amount may go a long way - because it goes directly where it is needed, rather than being wasted among bureaucracies. So far, to my knowledge, Medicare has not voiced any serious objections.