Oh, look: There aren’t enough California doctors to service Obamacare

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Michelle Malkin:

Several related items for you to contemplate this morning…

First, my Fox News appearance last week in which I noted how doctors and would-be doctors are fleeing the practice of medicine over Obamacare:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/BSNvQcrcusM[/youtube]

Second, via Matthew Balan at Newsbusters, this vulgar gang of MSNBC liberals denigrating me over my critique of Obamacare — not by answering any of my policy points, but by making crude jokes about my appearance and body parts…

JIM WARD: Did she need a colonoscopy to pull that out of her ass? (Lavoie and Miller laugh) Is there insurance for that?

CHRIS LAVOIE: Someone on your Facebook page just said, dear Michelle Malkin, your colon is not a fact checker, no many how many of your ignorant statements you pull out of your ass. (Lavoie and Ward laugh)

…Miller played the Malkin soundbite twice in the first hour of her program, first during a segment with Democratic Party strategist Karl Frisch, and again minutes later as she talked to Current TV correspondent Jacki Schechner, who once was the communications director for the pro-ObamaCare coalition Health Care for America Now. Ward’s colonoscopy line came during the Frisch segment.

During the clip, the conservative writer talked about a “brain drain” from the health care sector as a result of ObamaCare. After Miller played it the second time, Ward chimed in with a barb at Malkin’s intelligence: “Boy, she would know about brain drain.” Schechner herself launched an insult at the Fox News commentator: “Michelle Malkin is a senior fellow at fantasy think tank.” She soon added, “I have no idea where she [Malkin] gets this stuff, other than just making it up out of her own mind.”

About ten minutes later, a caller from Memphis, Tennessee named Gloria stooped to attacking Malkin’s appearance

Third, the latest Los Angeles Times headline from California about…thedoctor shortage and its implications for Obamacare…

As the state moves to expand healthcare coverage to millions of Californians under President Obama’s healthcare law, it faces a major obstacle: There aren’t enough doctors to treat a crush of newly insured patients.

Some lawmakers want to fill the gap by redefining who can provide healthcare.

They are working on proposals that would allow physician assistants to treat more patients and nurse practitioners to set up independent practices. Pharmacists and optometrists could act as primary care providers, diagnosing and managing some chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and high-blood pressure.

Fourth, this Healthcare Daily update on the continued loss of doctor-owned practices because of Obamacare:

It is predicted that fewer than 40 percent of physicians will own a practice at the end of 2013, with nearly 90 percent of them citing business expenses a a top concern, according to a survey by Accenture.

According to the consulting firm, 36 percent of physicians will own a practice by the end of the 2013, down from 57 percent in 2000:

An accompanying survey of 204 physicians found that 87 percent cited business expenses as a top concern influencing their decisions to seek employment. Sixty-one percent named managed care, and 53 percent identified requirements for electronic health record systems. In addition, 53 percent mentioned problems managing staff, and 39 percent cited the large number of patients needed to break even.

Fifth, the latest in a long line of Obamacare medical device tax-induced cutbacks and layoffs:

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Funny, I never saw the Left EVER interview a doctor or group of do tors who have raved about ALL the so called greatness of OFrau:d care. Just Democrat or left leaning politicians…..why is that?????

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From Star Trek‘s Spock’s Brain: While I might trust the doctor to remove a splinter or lance a boil, I do not believe he has the knowledge to…..

My mom was a nurse practitioner.
She WELL knew her limits.
There are some things NP’s can do so as to save MD’s from having to spend their time doing them.
Just as there are medical assistants who do nothing but fill out forms, and other sort-of-nurses who weigh and take temperatures for the doctor.
But even then NP’s cannot perform surgery (beyond very minor procedures and suturing), and some who do not have DEA numbers can not prescribe certain types of medications.
Almost all NP’s are supposed to be supervised by MD’s.
Only in isolated areas are they allowed to work without it.
Another new layer we are seeing in CA is the physician’s assistant.
My MD left a group practice because of the higher number of lawsuits due to the mistakes made by PA’s with too much freedom.
He retires in June.
His one-man office hired 14 people who will all be absorbed into different medical practices.
Most regret losing him as their boss.
I always liked him as my MD.
Good guy, honest and hard-working.

My doctor is moving to New Zealand. Where she’ll be appreciated.
I just bought her Ruger 77/Luepold combination, her custom 1911 that I carved the grips for, and a sweet little High Standard Trophy Citation kit.
I’m going to miss my range buddy.