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The President’s Run-In with Doctors
by Dr. Joel Strom
“YOU COME IN AND YOU’VE GOT A BAD SORE THROAT, OR YOUR CHILD HAS A BAD SORE THROAT OR HAS REPEATED SORE THROATS. YOU KNOW WHAT? I MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY IF I TAKE THE KID’S TONSILS OUT.” Barack Obama, 2009
Political rhetoric can be biting. Sometimes it should be. But this President, on this issue, with these words, went over the line he left no doubt that he believes America’s health care professionals will perform egregious, unnecessary services on patients just to make money. Never a mention of the hard work, years of education, or that perhaps he was referring to the smallest of minorities when he said that.
For many health care professionals, me included, that was the moment we stood up and shouted, “Enough Mr. President. I’ve had enough. I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore.”
Mr. Obama has lived (and largely succeeded) his entire public life not by bringing people together, but by creating protagonists and antagonists at each and every turn. His feint attempts to forge compromise, serve only to give him cover when he ends up besmirching the intentions and morals of those who oppose him simply because they believe him to be wrong.
Well, doctors, even those who voted for him in 2008, are tired of being cast as villains - as the antagonists. After all, who else in America has given more and knows more about how to care for the health care of our citizens but America’s doctors? Ask the President about doctors, however, and he believes us to be greedy, immoral and in need of rehabilitation and guidance? With these words, he made it clear that America’s doctors are now his chosen antagonists on health care.
That was then, this is now. Have we warmed to him or he to us? Has he made amends, asked our opinions, or even shown a bit of respect for what we do? Not surprisingly, he has not changed……but I suppose there is always hope.
Rather than being humble, he has doubled down, deriding doctors at every turn. As expected, he continues his onslaught against the very professionals who routinely care for Americans nationwide. Of course, because he has exempted his family from the PPACA so maybe his doctor does not feel quite the same as the rest of us.
How has he disappointed, let me count the ways:
He created a panel of “experts” in DC to make decisions for doctors about the services they can provide to their patients. He continues to hold a massive Medicare fee cut over our heads like a guillotine. He forces doctors to purchase expensive computer systems while offering a tax credit, but only if we jump through hoops to buy the ones he approves….and only if we qualify by treating the patients he wants us to treat.
He raised nearly 15 new taxes that impact our practices in one way or another. He raised personal taxes including sales tax on our homes, Medicare taxes on our investment income. He took over the student loan program so now our kids can only get a loan through the government.
He threatens to fine doctors who give out too many tests (as determined by bureaucrats in DC). He has created 80,000 code descriptions that we must use to collect payments. He has basically taken away our ability to help our employees design their own health care insurance/benefits package.
The lists goes on and on…..some 2700 pages long. It’s so long that even his own advisors don’t know what is in it. Maybe Ms. Pelosi has finally figured it out and we can ask her.
Doctors have finally entered the political fray over this. I suppose it’s better late than never. But let’s be honest, doctors must accept some of the blame for what has happened since 2008. Doctors make up less than 5% of our federal elected officials. They have rarely involved themselves in the political process or donated money to political causes. They placed trust in their national leadership organization, the AMA in particular.
While there are many understandable reasons for this, the fact remains that doctor have been late to the party. But that is changing and the tide is turning. Doctor organizations have popped up all over the country. If they can figure out a way to work together, their numbers will surprise people.
We formed Doc Squads as a hub for doctors whether or not they belong to any organization, to learn the political process and to help them, as they become surrogates, candidates, or donors. The team now stretches into 17 States, many of them swing states. With over 200 doctors, we are approaching 1500 events in which we have participated. From national radio and television to local news and talk radio shows, from op/eds to blog posts, a new day has arrived.
Doctors are learning that it is indeed part of their professional responsibility to become part of the political fabric. It’s up to them to help elect Presidents and Senators, Congressmen and Governors, who respect them, who respect the patients. Officials who, if they are not doctors, take the time to listen to us.
Clearly, the man at the top has not listened, and apparently he never intends to.
About Dr. Strom: Dr. Strom is a co-founder of DocSquads.org, an organization seeks to educate and prepare health care professionals to enter into political life, and a founder of the National Board for Docs 4 Patient Care, a national organization of health care professionals united to help protect the doctor-patient relationship and reform our nation’s health care system.
Dr. Strom has held numerous grassroots State positions including Senior Political and Health Care Advisor, Carly Fiorina for US Senate; Vice-Chair, California Republican Party Health Care Committee; State Co-Chair for Rudy Giuliani for President.
Dr. Strom is also a co-founder of Department 7, a full service political media company. You can visit check out their award-winning productions here.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Holly and their 19-year-old daughter Natalie.
2012-08-14 09:31:14
Source: http://www.thelouisvilleteaparty.com/2012/08/the-presidents-run-in-with-doctors/
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