Physicians’ View about Universal Healthcare

In response to the proposals to reduce the ranks of the uninsured by Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain, a physician staffing company surveyed physicians in the spring of 2008. Although details of the surveys methods are unavailable, results from a sample of 1,379 physicians (13% anesthesiologist, 13% psychiatrists, and only 6% internists) show that health care is the #2 issue, behind the economy. Half of physicians believe the solution to the health care crisis is some version of universal health care (either single payer or multi-payer). Another twenty percent of doctors say they would retire or change professions if universal health care was implemented during the term of the next President.

Of the two presumed candidates for President, roughly one-sixth of doctors feel that Senator Barack Obama’s health care plan represents the best fix to health care in the United States. Senator John McCain’s plan received approximately the same level of support from physicians. However, over one half of physicians believe that neither of the candidates has a good plan for health care reform.

While over two-thirds of physicians believe medical tort reform is a critical aspects of health care reform, a mere 26 percent believe ensuring universal access to health care should be a priority in health reform. Comments from physicians on the impact of universal health care ranged from it being “a boon” to potentially causing “irreparable damage” to the health care system.

Commentary:

This industry-sponsored, non-peer-reviewed survey demonstrates lower physician support of universal health care than a recently published survey detailing physician support of a National Health Insurance system (59%). However, this does not seem surprising considering that the current survey has a large proportion of surgeons and anesthesiologists who typically appear less welcoming of single-payer universal health care proposals. It is interesting that physicians hold beliefs about universal health care just as polarized as those held by the general public. It is unfortunate that physicians, often the lone advocates for patients, are forced to choose between optimizing their own financial success with that of their patients.

http://www.locumtenens.com/lt/media/gallery/pdf/2008ElectionSurveyHighlights.pdf (Accessed: 7/21/08)

Ann Intern Med. 2008 Apr 1;148(7):566-7.

by Cedric K. Dark, MD, MPH