Roughly a year after major implementations of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act went into effect in 2014, many physicians still don't view the legislation favorably, according to a recent survey conducted by physician staffing firm LocumTenens.com.
Highlighted below are 12 findings from the survey, which was conducted in January and includes responses from roughly 560 physicians.
- Nearly half (44 percent) of the physicians surveyed said they were opposed to the law prior to implementation. Now, more than half (58 percent) said they are opposed to the law after working within its confines for a year.
- Seventy-four percent of the physicians surveyed said they feel the PPACA will be overturned by Congress, but 66 percent say they think the law actually should be repealed.
- Negative aspects of the law cited by physicians include:
- Lower reimbursement to physicians and hospitals
- Higher patient debt due to high-deductible plans
- Increased administrative and compliance burdens for physician practices
- Patient confusion
- More than three quarters of the surveyed physicians stated patients were not educated about how the PPACA worked and many claimed insurance companies should have done more to inform patients about deductibles, premiums, coverage limits and other aspects.
- Some physicians highlighted the positive aspects of the PPACA, citing:
- Helping more people gain access to care
- Coverage for children under 26 years of age
- No insurance denials for pre-existing conditions
- Decreasing the costs of end-of-life care
- Focusing on preventative healthcare measures
Still, not all physicians have condemned the law. One physician surveyed wrote, "We need healthcare reform. While not perfect, [the PPACA] has opened the conversation."
More articles on the PPACA:
Tax code changes linked to PPACA cause worry among taxpayers
PPACA projected to increase primary care visits by 3.8%
HCA, insurance groups and others weigh in on PPACA subsidies