Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

The future of physicians: Dr. Zhivago offers clues

Thomas D. Guastavino, MD
Policy
June 22, 2015
Share
Tweet
Share

shutterstock_132428099

There is a scene from the movie Dr. Zhivago that, no matter how often I see it, sends chills down my spine. Yuri returns home from World War I after the communist revolution in Russia and runs into his half brother. Yuri finds that not only has his house has been taken over , but being a doctor, he has been “assigned” to work at a certain hospital. We all know what that means. There is an obvious look of horror on Yuri’s face, but he complies knowing full well what would happen if he didn’t.

Although we are not quite there yet, I have to wonder if that is where we are headed. When the ACA was passed, the modus operandi was first to offer an incentive to participate, and then once providers were in knee deep, pull the incentive away. Think EMR. It was no different with low ACA reimbursements and Medicaid expansion.

Knowing full well that the number of Medicaid participants would explode, the government first offered increased reimbursement for the burgeoning Medicaid population then once providers became dependent pull the incentive away which is where we are now. That’s was how it was supposed to work in theory, and some providers did become stuck, but for the most part it did not work out that way. There is now a struggle to try and prevent a mass exodus form Medicaid. Some states are trying to continue the incentives, for now at least, but some are trying to force providers to make Medicaid acceptance a condition for licensure. Some are trying to set the percentage of a practice that must be Medicaid. If that does not frighten you, it should. In an ideal world, both parties would be free to negotiate a compromise solution but we know full well we are not living in an ideal world.

Years ago, the vast majority of the population would view that scene from Dr. Zhivago and conclude that Yuri is being treated horribly. Today, there a is a growing population that would look upon that scene and conclude that its a great idea. After all, all physicians are rich, and they should be forced to provide what we need. Eventually, a politician will be elected on the basis of this platform, and the “assignments” will begin. The assignments will be minimal at first, but it will not end there. Eventually, the assignments will reach a critical mass where only those providers who are unable to leave will be in practice, knowing full well what would happen if they didn’t comply.

Physicians have been sitting in that proverbial slowly boiling pot of water for some time now with no end in sight. Of all the changes, this one — where the government essentially divorces required work from reimbursement — turns up the heat to its hottest point yet. If this does not push providers over the edge, what will?

Thomas D. Guastavino is an orthopedic surgeon.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

What new doctors don't realize. And it's holding them back.

June 22, 2015 Kevin 2
…
Next

How patients can use Internet research when seeing a doctor

June 22, 2015 Kevin 6
…

Tagged as: Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
What new doctors don't realize. And it's holding them back.
Next Post >
How patients can use Internet research when seeing a doctor

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Thomas D. Guastavino, MD

  • The consequences of taking patients at their word

    Thomas D. Guastavino, MD
  • Hospital bylaws saved this doctor from EMR burnout

    Thomas D. Guastavino, MD
  • This doctor stopped prescribing opioids. Other physicians should do the same.

    Thomas D. Guastavino, MD

More in Policy

  • How the One Big Beautiful Bill could reshape your medical career

    Kara Pepper, MD
  • Why the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is essential to saving lives

    J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD
  • Brooklyn hepatitis C cluster reveals hidden dangers in outpatient clinics

    Don Weiss, MD, MPH
  • Why nearly 800 U.S. hospitals are at risk of shutting down

    Harry Severance, MD
  • Innovation is moving too fast for health care workers to catch up

    Tiffiny Black, DM, MPA, MBA
  • How pediatricians can address the health problems raised in the MAHA child health report

    Joseph Barrocas, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How hospitals can prepare for CMS’s new patient safety rule

      Kim Adelman, PhD | Conditions
    • Why primary care needs better dermatology training

      Alex Siauw | Conditions
    • Guilty until proven innocent? My experience with a state medical board.

      Jeffrey Hatef, Jr., MD | Physician
    • Why medical notes have become billing scripts instead of patient stories

      Sriman Swarup, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Physician practice ownership: risks, rewards, and reality

      Paul Morton, CFP | Finance
    • Few people realize this common infection can cause serious complications [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Few people realize this common infection can cause serious complications [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Unity in primary care: Why I believe physicians and NPs/PAs must work together toward the same goal

      Jerina Gani, MD, MPH | Physician
    • My improbable survival of stage 4 cancer

      Kelly Curtin-Hallinan, DO | Conditions
    • How Filipino cultural values shape silence around mental health

      Victor Fu and Charmaigne Lopez | Education
    • Why leadership training in medicine needs to start with self-awareness

      Amelie Oshikoya, MD, MHA | Education
    • Federal shakeup of vaccine policy and the battle for public trust [PODCAST]

      American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 50 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How hospitals can prepare for CMS’s new patient safety rule

      Kim Adelman, PhD | Conditions
    • Why primary care needs better dermatology training

      Alex Siauw | Conditions
    • Guilty until proven innocent? My experience with a state medical board.

      Jeffrey Hatef, Jr., MD | Physician
    • Why medical notes have become billing scripts instead of patient stories

      Sriman Swarup, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Physician practice ownership: risks, rewards, and reality

      Paul Morton, CFP | Finance
    • Few people realize this common infection can cause serious complications [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Few people realize this common infection can cause serious complications [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Unity in primary care: Why I believe physicians and NPs/PAs must work together toward the same goal

      Jerina Gani, MD, MPH | Physician
    • My improbable survival of stage 4 cancer

      Kelly Curtin-Hallinan, DO | Conditions
    • How Filipino cultural values shape silence around mental health

      Victor Fu and Charmaigne Lopez | Education
    • Why leadership training in medicine needs to start with self-awareness

      Amelie Oshikoya, MD, MHA | Education
    • Federal shakeup of vaccine policy and the battle for public trust [PODCAST]

      American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

The future of physicians: Dr. Zhivago offers clues
50 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...