For some reason neither the media or the NEJM bothered to report on the results of this poll which, more than any other, will have a direct impact on the future of health care. 
Physician Survey: Health Reforms Potential Impact on Physician Supply and Quality of Medical Care
Mar. – Apr. 2010
| Key Findings | |
Physician Support of Health Reform in General | |
| • | 62.7% of physicians feel that health reform is needed but should be implemented in a more targeted, gradual way, as opposed to the sweeping overhaul that is in legislation. |
| • | 28.7% of physicians are in favor of a public option. |
| • | 3.6% of physicians prefer the “status quo” and feel that the U.S. health care system is best “as is. |
Health Reform and Primary Care Physicians | |
| • | 46.3% of primary care physicians (family medicine and internal medicine) feel that the passing of health reform will either force them out of medicine or make them want to leave medicine. |
Health Reform, Public Option, and Practice Revenue/Physician Income | |
| • | 41% of physicians feel that income and practice revenue will “decline or worsen dramatically” with a public option. |
| • | 30% feel income will “decline or worsen somewhat” with a public option. |
| • | 9% feel income will “improve somewhat” with a public option, and 0.8% feel income will “improve dramatically” with a public option. |
Health Reform, Public Option, and Physician Supply | |
| • | 72% of physicians feel that a public option would have a negative impact on physician supply, with 45% feeling it will “decline or worsen dramatically” and 27% predicting it will “decline or worsen somewhat. |
| • | 24% of physicians think they will try to retire early if a public option is implemented. |
| • | 21% of physicians would try to leave medicine if a public option is implemented, even if not near retirement age at the time. |
Health Reform and Recommending Medicine to Others as a Career | |
| • | 36% of physicians would not recommend medicine as a career, regardless of health reform. |
| • | 27% would recommend medicine as a career but not if health reform passes. |
| • | 25% of physicians would recommend medicine as a career regardless of health reform. |
| • | 12% would not recommend medicine as a career now but feel that they would recommend it as a career if health reform passes |
Source:“Physician Survey: Health Reform’s Impact on Physician Supply and Quality of Medical Care,”
The Medicus Firm, www.TheMedicusFirm.com
