Doctors need to get the AMA to stop lobbying for very limited residency seats. Many of these problems could be solved if we stop artificially restricting the number of doctors. |
Doesn't that happen with law offices, plumbing services and private school teachers too? |
That’s because you have no clue how much it costs to keep a medical practice afloat. And no primary care doctor is getting “hundreds”, plural, for a routine visit. Maybe a cardiologist. Think if the doctor brings in 400 dollars in one hour- that’s a really good rate to bring in. They pay the receptionist 20, each MA 20, the billing specialist probably 30, and the office manager 30. You’re left with 280 an hour. Then you have to pay your rent on your office. You have to pay malpractice insurance (massive). You have to pay for your EMR that you use. Your scheduling software that you use. Your website maintenance. Your medical supplies. Your cleaning crew. Your hazardous waste removal. Your electricity. Your internet. Now imagine you close your office for one hour for lunch, since your staff wants to eat. Eliminate that hour. Now imagine your patients expect you to call and email them back. Eliminate one more hour for that type of admin work at the end of the day. That’s 6 hours of patient care time where you get paid, and 2 hours where you continue to have expenses but don’t make money. If people think primary care doctors who didn’t sell out to private equity firms are laughing all the way to the bank, I have a bridge to sell you. |
m That’s doesn’t matter, insurances don’t pay those fees half the time. You think we get reimbursed for your covid tests anymore? Think again |
What percentage of what is billed do you think goes just to pay overhead to run the clinic, straight off the top, not even including malpractice insurance, maintaining licensure, etc. -- just the lights on, employees paid, and utilities? |
This is true of most businesses with rent, salaries, insurance, material and utility costs. The patient is not paying pennies though. They are paying hundreds and thousands of dollars a year. |
Never had one at the doctor's. |
Maybe evening hours? I have to wait weeks or months until a 4pm appointment is available so I don’t have to use my leave. I don’t get a lot of it.
I’m thrilled when I can find a doctor with evening hours. |
Right. So what percentage do you think thatis, for a medical practice? |
^^"that is" |
No it’s free market and private equity firms. |
This |
How can I tell? Are you in Manhatten or Front Royal, which affects rent and salaries. What kind of doctor are you - OB-Gyn or dermatologist or PCP, which will impact insurance premiums. Are you a concierge doctor or part of a hospital system? How many support staff do you employ? How long do you spend with each patient? I don't know the answer to these operating cost questions for my tree service or local supermarket either. Why don't you provide these figures to us? |
Doctors are the only professions treated this way. See e.g., professors, lawyers, law enforcement, teachers, etc. etc. |
What way? Have you just graduated? I don't think you know much about the professions you listed. |