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I want doctors to make money. Frankly, I want them to make a lot of money. They don’t have to make as much as Oprah, who made $275 million last year; or George Lucas, who made $170 million; or Stephen Spielberg, who made $150 million. Heck, both Tiger Woods and Madonna made $110 million last year….
The average doctor pay is less than what members of Congress make, and specialists make less an average that is not too much better, and that’s before you factor in all the free food, travel, and outright graft that some members of Congress will be able to add.
I don’t begrudge Congressional salaries, but I sure as heck don’t think what they do is as hard as brain surgery or doing a heart transplant.
When I was a kid, it was assumed that the valedictorian would probably go to med school. Being a doctor was pretty much for the best and brightest and we assumed they would make the best money because they were smart and would have to be in school about 4 times longer than the rest of us just to become a doctor….then they would be on call 24 hours a day and have to get called out of church and their kids’ ballgames to hurry to the hospital to take care of people who got banged up in a car wreck or had a stroke.
I want my doctor to make good money. I want him or her to be the smartest kid in his class, not the average. I want my doctor to enjoy being a doctor and don’t want the doctor coming into the operating room worrying about paying the rent, but thinking of how to keep me healthy enough so I can pay my own rent.
If we keep talking about limiting doctor salaries, we might get people who really aren’t that good, but they were willing to do the job at a discount.
I don’t care if Oprah made $275 million last year or if Kobe Bryant brought down $45 million. But if a member of my family has a brain tumor, I don’t want Oprah or Kobe doing the operation. I want the best neurosurgeon I can find, and I won’t be looking for the low bidder or seeing if there is a coupon in the paper for 10% off the cost—I want someone who has worked real hard to know what he’s doing and does it well. And if he’s really, really good at it, he’ll still only make about a penny for each dollar that Oprah makes.
If one of the results of the government “fixing” health care is to encourage the smart people to do what Oprah does and the dumb people to become doctors, then thanks, but no thanks….I need a good doctor a lot more than I need Oprah. And I want my doctor to make a lot of money.
That’s my view and I welcome yours….contact me at mikehuckabee.com and click on to the Fox News Feedback section and tell me your thoughts and you can also get contact information for your senators and Congressman at mikehuckabee.com
Comments 1-50 of 81
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Perkins, Doris
08/05/2009 09:32 AM
I appreciate what you're doing and pray that God will bless you and keep you in positions that will allow "true" Americans to be heard.
You know you'll always be "Governor Huckabee" don't you???
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Rye, Audrey
08/04/2009 11:59 AM
This is very well said. Thank you Gov. Huckabee !!
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Jackson, Cynthia
08/03/2009 06:45 PM
Thank you Gov. Huckabee. My husband is a physician who takes tonsils out (Otolaryngologist). Insurance now reimburses $85/per tonsillectomy. At $85, your child now can sleep during the night without wetting the bed (tonsils often block the airway when sleeping), stays awake at school and now makes good grades, gains weight, and whose self-esteem has improved greatly since the bedwetting has stopped....
I am still upset about Obama's comment about doctors taking tonsils out to make money. Obama has no clue, does he?
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suggs, alvin
08/02/2009 08:20 PM
allways watch fox news and want to tell you keep on the fireing line for the real USA and it's people keep up the good work GOD will bless you for the stand you take Thanks a bro.in CHRIST
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Harrison, Donnis
08/01/2009 12:35 PM
The current attack on health care providers by the liberal politicians and media is trying to paint doctors as greedy individuals. But as Mike Huckabee explained our great congressional leaders make more money than our avg doctor, we need to make a decision to we want cheap care or great care. We get what we pay for, a veteran once told me his health is not free he pays with time not money. It takes on average 6 months for our war heros to see a specialists in the socialized system at the VA.
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gorden, Beth
08/01/2009 12:13 AM
As always, Mike is RIGHT on the money. God Bless you!
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Ray, Kathy
07/31/2009 05:16 PM
I agree with you a 100% On the Doctors. I just went through a time when I have no Medical and had to go to the Emergency room, thinking I was having a heart attack the hospital Doctors and Nurses helped me out and I got the best care, I told them I had no way to pay and almost left the hospital, but they reassured me that I needed the stress test and EKG to make sure I was not having complications and that to make sure that I was okay, The finance dept helped me to get a grant so I could get the treatment. they found out that i had a very high colesteral level and needed my thyroid medicine which I had been out of for almost 2 months. I had taken my medicine for 17 yrs and never had the problems like I do now, but that was my Doctors fault, because he would'nt help me because I no longer had medical insurance. So if this reform goes through, I am afraid that next time i have a problem I could die, or have no one who cares. I am afraid that this new bill would hurt the people like me, but also the elderly, and people that have real medical issues. Thanks Mike For all you do, I support what you are doing for me a 100% too! Kathy Ray
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Sanderson, Amy
07/30/2009 07:31 PM
Physician's salaries have steadly declined over the past 15 years unlike other professions which by the way require much less education. Their is no incentive for our best and brightest to pursue the field of medicine. All that these potential M.D.'s might have to look forward to would be outrageous college tuition, followed byeven greater expenses for medical scholl, and the tireless job of being a resident...seriously underpaid and not yet able to start repaing student loans. Frankly, I want my physicians and those of my family to be the best abd brightest as well as being well paid. They work very hard for their credentials and should be compensated. Meanwhile. our insurers are literally making millions in positions as president, v.p., as well as many acct executives. Their salaries on paper may look somewhat beyond modest, but their bonuses are just plain vulgar!
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Thompson, Chad
07/29/2009 11:26 PM
Review a possible healthcare solution at http://americansolution.webs.com/healthcaresolution.htm and leave comments on the Guest page.
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Barrett, Gary
07/29/2009 07:35 PM
Dear Mike,
Thanks for all of your Sat. Fox shows. We record all of them. We loved the comments about the doctors. You are right on the money (no pun intended). Competent doctors should be well paid, and even when they are, they don't see much of that pay after overhead and mal-practice insurance.
Sincerely,
Gary and Linda
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b, richard
07/29/2009 05:46 PM
Patton, Andrew
07/29/2009 01:55 AMAlso,
I wasn't referring to the number of doctors per office, but to the number of non-medical support personnel per doctor. Taken in the light of doctors per office, I could see what you meant. -
b, richard
07/29/2009 05:34 PM
Patton, Andrew
07/29/2009 01:55 AMBefore govt /ins companies got their dirty mitts on every healthcare decision, overhead for doctors was similar.
Only a true statist could defend what we have now. In the not too distant past, I paid for everyday care and had hospitalization for the big stuff.
A true free market (which we haven't had for decades) drove prices to a minimum and doctor and patient made decisions without a statist bureaucracy mucking it up.
For example, My bloodwork would cost $40.00 and I would pay the bill. With all the special interests writing our legislation, price fixing has sky rocketed the cost to over $900.00 and they want me to thank the stars that the bureaucracy is there to relieve me of an ever shrinking portion of the cost.
In every other area technology has been employed, costs have plummeted.
I worked 26 years for a high end manufacturer of medical equipment so I know from where I speak.
Because the medical-pharma-insurance complex has tasted blood through the highly inflated prices they have obtained not from the free market, but through what should be illegal influence on our legislators, it may never be possible to put the genie back in the bottle and once more have freedom in our healthcare.
Even before Obamacare, explaining their system takes up a flowchart that barely displays on my 24 inch monitor.
What we NEED TO GET BACK TO IS:PATIENT <><><><><><<<><<<< DOCTOR
Now, that's more like it...
BTW, I grew up in a family with a body shop/garage.
One bodyman, One Mechanic. I did oil changes etc. (as a kid)
That’s it just us. My brother, the mechanic did the books -
Matthaeus, Pat
07/29/2009 02:28 PM
I agree with your Dr. opinion 100%. I think every true American is scared what they are trying to do to us. I wish there was more the average person can do besides calling Washington, and our state officials. Have we all lost our spirit? I have only one think to say "I wish you were our President" I know we'd never be scared. Thanks for your great show Gov. Huckabee. Your a great American.
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Goff, Steve
07/29/2009 04:45 AM
In regard to the CBO's latest findings--this is not a victory for the Democrats, though they will spin it that way. As it is, there are some serious questions as to how the CBO arrived at this conclusion. The CBO can produce a reasonable mathematical approximation in regard to expanding healthare in terms of cost per person to include the population growth curve, but how can the CBO predict how businesses will react to being forced into providing healthcare through the threat of higher taxation? How do they know that the companies won't just lay off workers instead of providing insurance for millions of workers or pass on the costs to consumers? They don’t. Nobody can predict these sorts of things. If they are wrong and unemployment spikes from around 10% to 15%, then people will have no choice but to enroll in the public option.
Let’s assume (disregarding sound mathematical analysis) that the CBO is able to gaze into the future. Here they are in there own words: “All told, we estimate that in 2016, about 9 million people who would otherwise have had employer coverage would not be enrolled in an employment based plan under the proposal. The net effect of the proposal on employment-based health insurance reflects larger changes in the other direction, however. We estimate that about 12 million people who would not be enrolled in an employment based plan under current law would be covered by one in 2016, largely because the mandate for individuals to be insured would increase workers’ demand for insurance coverage through their employer. On net, therefore, about 3 million people would have their primary coverage through an employer under the proposal that under current law.”
So the spin is that Obama care will actually create three million jobs in the private sector. Even if this were true, they are not highlighting the fact that it will drive 3 times of that amount out of the private sector initially, thus the public option will gain the nine million that the private sector initially lost or about three times more than those in the private sector after passing this legislation.
Keep in mind that this is only if the CBO’s assumptions come true. There is no way to predict how businesses will respond, especially during a major economic downturn like ours. It appears that the President’s private meeting with the head of the CBO was productive.
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Patton, Andrew
07/29/2009 01:55 AM
Richard, that's an apples-to-oranges comparison. It makes sense for there to be more mechanics per auto shop than doctors per office because of the economies of scale of the operation. An auto shop takes up much more space anyway due to the equipment needed, so it makes sense to employ several mechanics in one place. Doctors, by contrast, gain little by sharing a practice, and indeed, may get in each others' way.
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Oliverson, Thomas
07/29/2009 12:16 AM
As an anesthesiologist staring down the barrel of a 66% cut in my reimbursement if HR 3200 passes, I'd like to say "thanks" for the vote of confidence. I had begun to think that I was the bad guy in health care reform. I'd begun to think what I do everyday in the operating room wasn't important anymore because I'm too expensive. As I alluded to, Medicare pays me 33% of what private insurance pays accord to a GAO report from 2007...way below the 80% that most other doctors get.
I don't want to be the richest guy I know...but I did work really, really hard, and made the "top 10%" on a lot of tests to be able to do what I do every day (Did I mention that I still have a lot of med school debt and I didn't start my first real job until age 32?). With all the attention given to the death of Michael Jackson and the drug "propofol" (which I administer countless times every day to people who actually wake up and go home to their families)I am still discouraged by the relative unimportance the practice of anesthesiology and medicine in general holds on capitol hill these days. It's good to know that there are people who believe that "you get what you pay for" in medicine.
You have all touched my heart, God bless you! -
b, richard
07/28/2009 10:26 PM
I was at the local Pep Boys recycling some drain oil and noted there were about 10 mechanics on duty, 1 manager and a clerk (shop only, not the store).
When I go to my doctor tomorrow there will be 2 physicians, 1 nurse and an office with about 4-5 billing people and associated computers, faxes, printers etc...
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?? -
Bahler, Clint
07/28/2009 10:05 PM
Dear all:Thanks for your kind comments towards doctors. I'm currently $200,000 in debt in my second year of surgical training. Last year I laughed as I calculated my hourly wage at about $11/hr working 80hrs/week (before taxes).
This is my dream and I left a family business in order to do it! I still think I'm lucky to be in medicine, but I also see a big cost.
The stress and workload has taken a toll revealing weak spots. For example during the long hours of book studying in medical school I developed eye problems/loss of vision requiring rehab.
Time. My preparation for medicine began in high school making it 11 years now that I'm usually at the hospital or home studying instead of hanging out like the rest of my buddies. I greatly miss the social time lost.
The good news is that I counted the cost ahead of time. I really want to help sick and hurting people find hope and healing as an MD!
However, government run medicine will change things. I think I would have chosen a different field had I been in Canada/France. I agree with Gov. Huchabee that many students will not be drawn to medicine if there are few rewards for their hard work.
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Talk, Frank
07/28/2009 06:37 PM
This is a key point about the health care bill.
It's come to light that the bill is going to allow taxpayer funds to be used for abortion. This is a sneaky and outrageous trick that is being slipped into the bill.
It gets around the Hyde amendment passed in 1976 that explicitly prevents the federal government from using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion through Medicaid.
Some conservative democrats are now finding out about this trick that has been put into the new health care bill and are threatening to vote against the bill because of it. Good for them.
People need to be made aware of this sneaky outrage. It's when the voters become outraged over things like this that their voices are heard.
People need to spread the word on this sneaky trick.
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Goff, Steve
07/28/2009 03:02 PM
Obama knew that if the American people read the bill that they would reject it. His hope was that he could use panic to help him achieve his objective; hence the framing of the argument as a "crisis.” The Pres. was asked during the AARP debate whether the cost of doing nothing would be greater than the short term price of paying a trillion dollars. The President’s answer was yes, but he didn’t provide any solid figures. What he did say was that premiums would “probably” double in the next couple of years. “Probably?” The President doesn’t have any solid figures representing his argument. The CBO has stated that the President’s solution will actually increase costs, so it takes a problem and makes it even worse, so the question is the method of remedy to the problem, not inaction—though the American people would prefer inaction over something that would exasperate the problem. Nobody is suggesting inaction, especially in the case of Medicare. We have about ten years before Medicare’s trust fund expires. Translation--we have time. Apparently, AARP agrees with me. Gene Brinkly with BNET notes:
"The Medicare trust fund is in very [bad] financial shape--but will it be insolvent? I don't think so," says Joseph Antos of the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington. D.C., think tank. AARP, which represents 35 million people aged 50 and over, concurs with Antos. In an analysis of the Medicare report, AARP states, "The 15-year solvency window projected by the trustees provides Congress with adequate time to make necessary adjustments to Medicare's financing."—Managing without Medicare: with experts projecting bankruptcy by 2019, how will you handle future medical expenses?If AARP really believes that we have time to fix Medicaid, than why are they endorsing a bill by Obama that is being rushed through Congress before even being read? Maybe AARP needs to rethink their course of action.
The President also states that Medicare is a government run program, which is true, but in the same breath he also states that it is Medicare that is going to bankrupt the system. So the President admits in his own words that it is a government run institution that is bankrupting the country. Keep in mind it won’t matter if our elderly have Medicare when a government board is dictating what kind of treatment they will be receiving. So Medicare will only be able to provide the coverage that the government dictates—that is how they are planning to reign in the debt of Medicare—by denying services. It all boils down to government waste. My generation won’t have social security that we are paying into because the government stole it out of the trust fund. I think maybe we should crunch the numbers on this welfare state that the Pres. is expanding (rolling back bi-partisan Clinton Reforms) and see how this is contributing to our debt.
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Tang, Kevin
07/28/2009 03:00 PM
Dear Mike,
What you said made sense, and I fully agree. I am going to forward this to my best friend who is a doctor. I think he will appreciate what you said too.
Kevin
from Michigan -
Preite, Susan
07/27/2009 11:09 PM
Doctors would not have to charge so much if they didn't have to pay so much malpractice insurance. Reform there, reform insurance companies with their high premiums. Reform perscriptions. America needs its good doctors. Obama needs to get off the control wagon. He is in the mind set of taking everything over so he can bring this country down. Obama has no idea how strong the American people are he is going to find out the Sheep are awake and he won't be able to rush his health care plan through. Even Congress and the Senate, unless they are lawyers, cannot understand this bill. That is Obama's way to have it so difficult that Americans cannot understand what they are reading 1200 pages! God only knows what all they are craming in this bill.
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Jones, Kathryn
07/27/2009 11:02 PM
There will be such a shortage of capable physicians if any Health Bill goes through. What will we do? Everyone in medical school at this time is nervous about the Health Care business.
Catholic hospitals are worried that they will be forced to do abortions or they will be closed down. Do they know how many hospitals that would be? Two in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That would leave us in a lurch. Yikes!!!!!!!!!!!! -
Jones, Kathryn
07/27/2009 10:58 PM
Doctors should make money with all the time and energy that they put into their education. How do they think we get great heart surgeons and cures for cancer? It doesn't come from government run medical care.
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Captain Obvious
07/27/2009 10:35 PM
This week's Huckabee! was the best show yet!
Your opening comments had me cheering--thank you for giving us the text here. And thank you for giving Vice President Quayle a chance to speak out. I've often thought of the way he was treated by the press as I watched them savage Governor Palin.
In her vernacular, "Heck yeah!" Pay should reflect the level of responsibility involved. I've long lamented that people who play games and sing songs are paid ridiculous amounts of money; pay to those people who handle our money is so much greater than to those who care for and teach our children.
I most definitely want my doctor to be well paid and to have enough equally well-paid colleagues that he/she is not overworked.
BTW--you've copyrighted your comments for the first time I can recall. No big surprise; they are well worth plagiarizing! Wonder how many politicos and bloggers get into "I wish I had said that" mode.
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Ron and Dottie in Fl
07/27/2009 10:15 PM
I agree with Gov. Huckabee. I have had the same Drs. for a number of years. I have always had good care & they have been concerned about whatever was going on with me. In one incidence my regular Dr. was going to do surgery but I read a story about another Dr. who did a different type of procedure, went to see him & scheduled the surgery with him. When I called my other Dr's office & cancelled, it wasn't long until he called me back personally. I explained the situation to him & he asked me if I wanted him to call the other Dr. I told him yes. He did, called me back & told me the other Dr. was the best one to do it. This same Dr. also found that my best friend had cancer & since she did not have insurance, arranged for her to have surgery by an oncologist- free of charge. I love this man & would go to no one else. Also my podiatrist says he has not had a raise in 12 years. He is an awesome Dr. & does not seem to think this bill will pass. I hope he is right. I want both of these Drs. to make lots of money because I don't want them to leave their practices. I would hate to see this bill passed & Ron & I are doing everything we can to stop it.
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RN, Pat
07/27/2009 08:49 PM
Bravo Mike. But what about Nurses. The ANA supports this ridiculous health reform and some think that nurses will have to accept a cut in pay along with an increase in patient load which will truly compromise patient care.This situation is lose/lose for eveeryone in health care today.
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DeLuca, Chris
07/27/2009 05:56 PM
Love your show and totally agree with your doctor's sentiment. Keep up the good show!!
Why don't you talk about your fair tax program any more? I believe it could pay for the health care, eliminate the IRS and SAVE BILLIONS!
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b, richard
07/27/2009 05:43 PM
de Kat, Virginia
07/27/2009 02:26 PMYour story touched me as my wife has had intractable seizures from birth.
I have counted it a privilege and somewhat of a calling to help care for her, and through prayer God has miraculously kept her safe through many many episodes.
Since being hit by a car, and developing diabetes, she is now my helper as well. We will be married 25 years this year. Obamacare would probably have aborted her, and would be nipping at my heels now...
we gotta fight this... -
Dr. David
07/27/2009 04:02 PM
The shortage of primary care physicians existed in this country before Barack Obama was elected President. The shortage was caused in part by the fact that primary care pays less than most, if not all, other areas of medicine, and all physicians in training know this. I hope that Mike was referring to primary care physicians in his comments above.
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McBride, Barbara
07/27/2009 02:56 PM
Mike you are so smart and know exactly the direction this country should be headed. I shudder to think what our health care will be if he gets his way. You are right we may have a hard time getting really good doctors. I just pray come 2012 you will be our president
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Whitten, Jimi
07/27/2009 02:41 PM
I just got an e-mail (sorry, no reference) that said that a reporter asked Obama how he would like being covered by his health plan! He avoided the question, never answered! My e-mail went on to point out that he and members of Congress would not be covered by it - that should tell us plenty! We should somehow demand that if it gets shoved down our throats that they get a bite as well.
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Greifenstein, Anita
07/27/2009 02:39 PM
I couldn't have said it better. It's a disgrace. I don't mind healthcare costs increasing to pay their salaries to have the best and the brightest. What I disagree with is healthcare costs rising because of failure due to mediocrity resulting in lawsuits.
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de Kat, Virginia
07/27/2009 02:26 PM
In Nov 2007, my husband of 30 years woke me by having a horrific grand mal seizure. Ambulances, emergency room, and MRI's became part of our lives from then to today. The short version: He was diagnosed with an malignant, inoperable brain tumor. Treatment began with 28 daily radiation treatments along side oral chemo pills. In Oct 2008, this treatment was deemed a failure and they started him on a new treatment of AVASTIN combined with an older chemo. The tumor has shrunk from the size of a golf ball to about .5". We'll know more in a week. My point? Our health care system is amazing. No, it's not perfect, but we have treatments that offer patients and families a "quality of life" never before possible. I'm terrified that the new health care system will tell him to go home, take an aspirin, and get ready to die. He's not ready to die. He's a wonderful human being.
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Hull, Sue
07/27/2009 01:50 PM
We have more choices than just catching cancer early or catching cancer late. How about preventing cancer in the first place? If we really want control over our health, we need to do the research, make the lifestyle changes and take responsibility!
A true HEALTH care plan should have as its main thrust health promotion. We need a change of culture that promotes healthy eating and exercise. We did it with smoking. Now, people look at you funny if you smoke, like "what's wrong with you? Are you nuts?" The same thing can be done with other unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Simply paying for "health" care as it is now, will never make us healthy. We have to make ourselves healthy.
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Lovell, Diana
07/27/2009 01:47 PM
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!
I hope you didn't just blog this-I hope you wrote to your Congressperson, too! And that goes for everyone who comments!
They'll do whatever they want (and this is blatant socialism) unless WE, THE PEOPLE let them know that they won't be able enjoy those perks and cushy salary if they vote this into law-because we won't vote for them the next time around!
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SarahAnn
07/27/2009 12:09 PM
My MD told me that he was not allowed to charge a patient less than Medicare will pay him.. I can see where the government might be involved in patients being overcharged & cheated by price gouging.. But why can't a Dr. charge less?I have Medicare & private insurance, and don't need help. But, from what I have seen the government has not ever had any medical training.. So, why not stay out of it and let the trained & caring Dr's make the medical decisions....
I do believe that the ones that are uninsured, due to no fault of their own, should have free health care.. And, it does seem to be a lot of programs that do, like Medicaid & CHIPS...
But, I do know people that live in fancy homes, drive new cars, eat out regularly at nice restaurants.. So, they can not afford health care. And, they figure out how to get free care..
We are retired now, but we always paid bills first , and our insurnce was up there as a must.. Then what was left,we had a few extra's, but not many..But, it seems my generation, will have to pay for this new healthcare plan, with our life.. If we are over 60 , and have some health problems.
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Cates, Bob
07/27/2009 11:29 AM
Amen Governor. Why is it that every time the liberals want to bash wall street, doctors, or any one else they consider "rich" they never bring up the truly rediculous salaries the hollywood elite and sports figures make?
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smith, mary
07/27/2009 10:39 AM
You are exactly right. Also, after all of the education required to become a doctor, they need to be able to pay off loans, make a living, and cover their insurance.
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B, K
07/27/2009 10:07 AM
Thank you for speaking what I've been thinking for months now. I am a family medicine physician in my first year out working after residency. I'd like to clarify things for a few people on here who still think we make too much money. I came out of residency with close to $300,000 worth of school debt, which I pay approximately $1500 per month now to make the minimum payments. I drive a 15 year old jeep cherokee with 228,000 miles on it, and pray it doesn't break down anytime soon. I work in a fairly rural community, and have realized this year that family physicians make very little money. I'm probably making right around $110,000 this year. My malpractice costs me around $10,000 per year(and I'm living in a low malpractice state and not doing OB, which would raise my malpractice rates). I'm paying down a few credit cards that I used to practically live on, as I made no salary during the 4 years of med school and during residency I made basically minimum wage for the 80+ hours per week I worked. My husband and I are renting for the 2nd year in a row, because we can't even qualify for a mortgage to buy a regular house right now, not a mansion. I don't even know how we would afford a used car right now to replace my jeep if we had to. So Nancy Pelosi and everyone else who thinks doctors "should be squeezed" to help pay for healthcare should really do their homework. Kids don't go to med school because they can make a great salary, give me a break, those people wouldn't make it through the first year of med school if that was their goal. Better to go into business or computers to make money, as that is less time in training and a lot less stress. I know many doctors who are having heart attacks at age 40 due to the constant stress they have been enduring for years. Others retired at 55 and have a stroke or heart attack a few weeks later. This is not an easy job people! If you want to squeeze anyone, squeeze pharmaceuticals and insurance companies. I may charge $100 for a basic office visit, but the good insurance companies only pay me 60% of that, and then if it is medicare they pay 20-30% less than that, and the rest has to be written off. So if you wonder why most doctors are against socialized medicine, that is why. It would place all the people who are uninsured on a medicare like program, and our practices would go under. If Congress wants to forgive my school loans, then I might consider seeing a few more patients on the govt healthcare plan, but I can't even make a living if they don't, and I don't feel like going bankrupt at age 35. I didn't go into medicine to be rich, most of us docs are a lot smarter than that, you have to really enjoy this job to do it, as it isn't easy and you earn every penny! Thank you for your time!
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Davis, Kevin
07/27/2009 08:28 AM
I am two weeks away from starting my first semester of medical school in Little Rock and let me just say that I am incredibly nervous about what our president is trying to push through. I am about to sign my name on the dotted line for one of four loan installments that will ultimately total around $125,000. I appreciate these comments defending doctors because I don't think there are too many people who understand how badly this could affect them.
I am looking to go into internal medicine, one of the least reimbursed physicians. Since I am not doing this for the money I really don't care that I am not going to get rich. But I do care that if general practitioners salaries get reimbursed that same way medicaid, medicare, and tricare get reimbursed, I wonder if I am going to be able to break even. I am going to be making the equivalent of two house payments each month plus malpractice insurance and everything else. This is a very real problem that I hope congress is very aware of because they could absolutely destroy the health care system if they aren't careful. Speaking frankly, with the leading edge of baby boomers now starting to get at or near retirement society is going to need as many internists as we can find and I really resent the powers that be "putting the screws" to people like me.
The only thing that has kept me to going to medical school this year (and not deferring a year to see how this all turns out) is that if this all does pan out, I want to make sure my family has a doctor...
Thanks, Mike, so much for your support!
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Stewart, Lynn
07/27/2009 07:29 AM
Sorry this is long but I posted this on my blog on Saturday:
I had my first colonoscopy yesterday -- it went well -- don't remember a thing about it -- praise be to God -- but, afterward, I nursed a headache and nausea all day -- probably a reaction to the narcotic. Still, it could have been worse and I'm glad I had it done -- next time, I'll know what to expect. And, yes, the prep is worse than the procedure.
I'm at that age -- nearly 50 -- where they recommend having your first one if you aren't having problems or don't have a family history of colon cancer; after that, it's every five years -- unless they find something -- which they did. I had one polyp -- now, chances are this is benign so I'm not worried (though I'll be glad to get the path report) but this means that I'll have to do this more often than I would have wished.
But here is the scariest thing -- with all the talk about health care, will I even be a candidate for having this done every three years? Or, will this come under the "not necessary" label? That bothers me -- because I don't want to end up with colon cancer -- or any kind of cancer -- because some bureaucrat decides that chances are I won't get it so, therefore, the test/procedure is not worth the cost.
See, here's the thing, people complain about unnecessary tests all the time. But, let someone not have a test but then get sick -- then they want to blame someone because they didn't have the proper test. You can't have it both ways.
But, I ask you, what would you prefer? An unneccessary test which showed you didn't have a disease -- or no test which might have shown that you did? For me, it's no contest. Give me the unnecessary test -- I'm not willing to play Russian roulette with my health or that of my loved ones.
Nor do I want the government deciding what health care I need or who I have to see to get it. And all I have to do is look at Medicare, Medicaid and the VA system to see how the government runs things.
If you've read my profile, you know that I'm married to a physician -- so I am able to see the situation from both sides -- I've been a patient many times and our insurance premiums (yes, we pay them, too -- as well as massive malpractice premiums) are skyhigh because I have high blood pressure, asthma, hypothyroidism, arthritis and diet-controlled diabetes. Yes, there needs to be some changes but making it so that your doctor is not the one who decides what you need is just plain foolhardy.
My husband is an excellent physician -- he would be embarrassed at me for saying that. I know I'm prejudiced but, honestly, if I didn't think he was, I just wouldn't say anything. He is caring, works long, hard, stressful hours, is frustrated because he can't see patients fast enough to suit them or him (he can't work 24/7), is fussed at by irate patients who think they are the only one he has to see during any given day (wait until he has to cut his time with them even farther if everybody comes running to the doctor because it's "free"), patients who get mad because he won't give them the drugs they are seeking, patients who think nothing of throwing a doctor's bill into the trash, though they wouldn't dare stop paying for their cigs or alcohol.
Yeah, there are perks to being married to a doctor but I can tell you from experience, that although I know my husband loves me and his children, the sacrifices have not been insignificant. Sure, if we have an emergency, he'll be here but our lives have always revolved around his schedule -- and the patients come first - because of duty. We are, however, a close second.
He says if he had to do all it all over again, he would not go into the medical field. The idea of anybody telling him what he can or cannot do for his patients just rubs him the wrong way -- you absolutely cannot do the best thing for your patients if your hands are tied. Unfortunately, I think a lot of good doctors will be retiring early -- and the best and brightest who might have chosen to become physicians will probably think twice -- which is sad -- and scary -- because, in my opinion, the people who are taking care of our health needs ought to be the best and brightest. Of course, it could be that they'll lower the standards for getting into medical school if they need more doctors.
Our youngest daughter, who is 17, is making noises about going to medical school. We will encourage her in whatever she chooses to do but the old saying about becoming a doctor holds true:
Don't do it unless it's the only thing you can think of doing.
Otherwise, pick something else which requires less schooling, less tuition, less stress.
And more family time.
Because you can't get that back.
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Ruter, Jeanne
07/27/2009 06:59 AM
Mike, you are the man!! PLEASE run in 2012....we need some common sense in the White House!
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RGeorge
07/27/2009 06:24 AM
Having our Government tell just one person how much they can earn will lead to your earnings being controlled. Tax away that income and you have the same.
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Jones, Emily
07/27/2009 06:18 AM
Well said! Many physicians dedicate their lives to being on call and continuing their education. They deserve the best. Big government, leave them alone!
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marchese, Patricia
07/27/2009 05:47 AM
I have been chronically ill for 20 years. It has taken many years to assemble the group of doctors that take care of me They are hardworking dedicated people who really care about me as a patient and a friend. They are so ubderpaid that those who can are taking early retirement or changing professions. This would be such a loss to our community. What are we doing to ourselves. We need to do everything we can to keep dedicated doctors at work and happy to be there. Call, email and send letters send edirorials to your local papers. Continually let them know what we want. Real thoughtful reform. Let them come home and talk to doctors and patients about what we need before they start writing a new meaningful piece of legislation!!
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Davar, Nina
07/27/2009 05:40 AM
I agree 1000%. Everyone comes to the US for health care they are not able to get in their own countries. I have never heard of any American rushing his kid to England or France or Canada for medical care. What I would really love to know is why noone is pointing out the fact that we already have public health care for those who cannot afford insurance. As a matter of fact, that wonderful public service is going bankrup because the Gov't doesn't pay their bills. The reason why it is so difficult to find doctors who will except Medicaid/Medicare is because of the fact that the Gov't is not paying the doctors for the services they provide. Perhaps this is what we should be looking at and "revamping." Perhaps our President should consider "paying" the doctors for their work and maybe, just maybe we would not have this issue.
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Monte, Adam
07/27/2009 03:49 AM
Really well written blog. Obamacare will only reduce doctor salaries and I don't really want a C- student who almost failed medical school to be operating on me.
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Bruce, Roy
07/27/2009 01:58 AM
Well put Mike Huckabee.
I live in New Zealand (a country in the south pacific ocean near Australia), and we have had socialized healthcare here for a few years now.As a citizen of the United States of America, I have been watching the Obamacare developments closely. And living in a country where health care is socialized, I can honestly say it is not a good idea.
What I have observed from our socialized system is:
-Long waiting lists (for simple operations as well as for life saving operations)
-rediculous amounts of paperwork
-sub standard practicing in our hospitals (there's cases where people have gone in for a simple operation only to die - check this article http://www.3news.co.nz/News/NationalNews/Hospital-admits-failures-over-young-soldiers-death/tabid/423/articleID/114005/cat/64/Default.aspx)
-little or no desire for med graduates to stay in the country and use their education here resulting in a shortage of doctors and other medical professionals
That's just what shows on the surface, that's what is the main result of med graduates seeking what they're worth overseas and society here having to deal with whats left over and taking any medical 'professionals' we can get because we're so short of experts.
And yes, it does end up costing the tax payers way too much to fund when that tax could be used much better elsewhere (upgrading our transport sector, or education, or funding our defence forces, etc)
My verdict is its just not worth it. Keep fighting socialism, keep America a land where you can prosper and not have your wealth taken from you and given to bludgers. Just my opinion.
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InfoPowered
07/27/2009 01:57 AM
The earnings are absolutely the primary incentive for doctors & the requirements should weed out the unfit. Reducing doctors pay will absolutely decrease the number of brilliant people pursuing such a career when we don't need quantity, we need quality.
I've worked in sales and in the corporate world. I have the ability to kill a sale with a mistake, whereas my wife, who's a pharmacist, could easily potentially kill someone with 1 prescription error--so no, I don't begrudge her making a lot more than me. :)DOES ANYONE NEED A JOB??
300 new jobs for Ohio & Missouri:If you live near Strongsville (south of Cleveland) Ohio,
--OR--
live near Manchester (near St. Louis), Missouri, or know someone who does looking for work, Costco Wholesale is opening BRAND NEW locations in both these cities in November 2009.
Pay starts at $11/hr to $20/hr, plus EXCELLENT Aetna health/dental insurance benefits, 401(k), paid vacation & sick time for part-time employees!!
Check back on costco.com & scroll to the bottom of the page under "employment opportunities" as they only accept applications online & will start hiring very soon.
Just wanted to pass this along to help any fellow HuckPAC people in need of a job or knowing a family member or friend in these areas who does.
Take care & Stand Strong!
