To: The Florida State House, The Florida State Senate, and Governor Ron DeSantis
Support Independent Doctors
I am a concerned citizen. The viability of my independent physician’s practice is important to me. I believe that independent physicians are important for affordable and high quality patient care, and patient choice. I am concerned about the rising cost of health care. I am concerned that the number of independent doctors has.
Why is this important?
Most independent doctor practices are small businesses. In total, small businesses create about 65% of the nation's net new jobs. [1]
In every industry, competition is an important check against higher prices, diminished quality, and loss of consumer choice. In the medical field, the presence of independent doctors is an important factor in our nation’s ability to sustain affordable and high quality care, and preserve patient choice.
In this regard, the trends are not encouraging. According to a research firm, the number of independent doctors as a percentage of total doctors has declined from 57% in 2000, to a projected 36% in 2013. [2]
More than 100,000 independent doctors have exited the practice or become hospital-employed. [3]
This may be the steepest decline for small business, in any American industry. During the same period, there has been a surge in hospital-employed doctors. Today, very large hospitals have a much larger market share, and less competition, than they did 10 years ago.
This dynamic – in which big hospitals have become bigger, and independent practices have declined -- has coincided with another unfortunate trend: During the past 10 years, health care costs per family of four, have more than doubled, and in 2012 exceeded $20,000 per year for the first time. [4]
Recent press reports indicate often substantially higher rates charged by hospitals than by independent practices -- for the same or similar procedures. [5] When competition is diminished, all Americans pay a price.
For these reasons, we support legislative efforts to ensure the continuing viability of independent doctor practices -- to preserve competition, and promote affordable and high quality health care for patients. If you agree with us, we would greatly appreciate your support, by you agreeing to the following statement/petition.
While we will not disclose your identity concerning this petition, we would like to disclose the number of citizens collectively who have signed this petition. We believe this would be helpful in achieving our legislative objectives.
_________________________________________________
[1] See http://web.sba.gov/faqs/faqIndexAll.cfm?areaid=24 and http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203914304576630973840478808.html
[2] See http://www.accenture.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/Accenture-Clinical-Transformation-New-Business-Models-for-a-New-Era-in-Healthcare.pdf
[3] Id. (Statistic for the period 2000-2013.)
[4] See http://www.forbes.com/sites/danmunro/2012/12/30/2012-the-year-in-healthcare-charts/
[5] See Wall Street Journal article dated 8/26/2012, Same Doctor Visit, Double the Cost – Insurers say Rates Can Surge After Hospitals Buy Private Practices; Medicare Spending Rises, too. Available at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443713704577601113671007448.html. See also http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-04-03/health/os-doctors-unite-20130403_1_orlando-health-doctor-partners-independent-doctors-independent-doctors
In every industry, competition is an important check against higher prices, diminished quality, and loss of consumer choice. In the medical field, the presence of independent doctors is an important factor in our nation’s ability to sustain affordable and high quality care, and preserve patient choice.
In this regard, the trends are not encouraging. According to a research firm, the number of independent doctors as a percentage of total doctors has declined from 57% in 2000, to a projected 36% in 2013. [2]
More than 100,000 independent doctors have exited the practice or become hospital-employed. [3]
This may be the steepest decline for small business, in any American industry. During the same period, there has been a surge in hospital-employed doctors. Today, very large hospitals have a much larger market share, and less competition, than they did 10 years ago.
This dynamic – in which big hospitals have become bigger, and independent practices have declined -- has coincided with another unfortunate trend: During the past 10 years, health care costs per family of four, have more than doubled, and in 2012 exceeded $20,000 per year for the first time. [4]
Recent press reports indicate often substantially higher rates charged by hospitals than by independent practices -- for the same or similar procedures. [5] When competition is diminished, all Americans pay a price.
For these reasons, we support legislative efforts to ensure the continuing viability of independent doctor practices -- to preserve competition, and promote affordable and high quality health care for patients. If you agree with us, we would greatly appreciate your support, by you agreeing to the following statement/petition.
While we will not disclose your identity concerning this petition, we would like to disclose the number of citizens collectively who have signed this petition. We believe this would be helpful in achieving our legislative objectives.
_________________________________________________
[1] See http://web.sba.gov/faqs/faqIndexAll.cfm?areaid=24 and http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203914304576630973840478808.html
[2] See http://www.accenture.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/Accenture-Clinical-Transformation-New-Business-Models-for-a-New-Era-in-Healthcare.pdf
[3] Id. (Statistic for the period 2000-2013.)
[4] See http://www.forbes.com/sites/danmunro/2012/12/30/2012-the-year-in-healthcare-charts/
[5] See Wall Street Journal article dated 8/26/2012, Same Doctor Visit, Double the Cost – Insurers say Rates Can Surge After Hospitals Buy Private Practices; Medicare Spending Rises, too. Available at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443713704577601113671007448.html. See also http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-04-03/health/os-doctors-unite-20130403_1_orlando-health-doctor-partners-independent-doctors-independent-doctors