Only 23 percent of 409 New York doctors queried by the State Medical Society said they’re accepting patients who have enrolled in an Obamacare health exchange.
And another 33 percent haven’t decided whether or not to take the patients and become official Obamacare providers, The New York Post reported.
“This is so poorly designed that a lot of doctors are afraid to participate,” said Dr. Sam Unterricht, the president of the New York State Medical Society, an organization with 29,000 members, in The New York Post. “There’s a lot of resistance. Doctors don’t know what they’re going to get paid.”
Of those doctors who said they were participating in Obamacare, their cited reason was they “had to” because of existing contracts with insurers or medical providers. The State Medical Society said only one-fourth of doctors in the state who participated in the survey actually chose to join the Obamacare exchange plan — but fully 77 percent of them had yet to see a fee schedule. They’ve no idea how much they will be paid for their services, The Post said.
Some of the doctors’ written comments to the State Medical Society: “Obamacare wants to start right away, but who sees all these new patients???? Not me,” one wrote.
And another, The Post reported: “I plan to retire if this disaster is implemented. This is a train wreck.”
SEE ALSO: Everyone won’t keep health care plan under Obamacare, White House admits
And another: “I refuse to participate in the exchange plans! I am completely opposed to this new law,” The Post reported.
One more: “The solution is simple. Just say no.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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