New Doctor in Town..

[JJ_BPK]

I just got a tweet from our dog's vet,, She is going to be my PPO doctor.. Now me and the dog will get One-Stop-Doctor'n..

California Redefines 'Doctors' to Compensate for Obamacare Shortages

As a result of Obamacare and its expansion of coverage to millions, many states will begin to experience doctor shortages. California is dealing with this problem by redefining who is a “doctor.”

State lawmakers are working on legislation that would permit physician assistants and nurse practitioners to set up independent practices. Pharmacists and optometrists could now act as “primary care” providers.

These role changes will be common in the age of Obamacare, when even teachers will be “trained” to diagnose mental health and behavioral health problems in “school-based healthcare centers.”

As State Senator Ed Hernandez (D) says, “What good is it if they are going to have a health insurance card but no access to doctors?”

The solution, to those who support ObamaCare, is to permit more people to do what “doctors” have done in the past.

continued:

[Stargazer]

I believe PA's and NP's already do a lot of the daily care in clinics and practices. I have a friend who is a PA with an Ortho group and a NG Medic. One of my daughter's has completed an internship with him and that is the direction (PA) she is pursuing. It's my understanding they can already write prescriptions (with the exception of narcotics). I have had PA's oversee post-op and felt I received good care. Pharmacists?? There are many clinics in drug stores and grocery stores, so I suppose it's building upon this model. Personally, I would not utilize these service providers anymore than I do immediate care (unless there is no option outside of an emergency room that is not warranted).

I have long believed PA's and NP's would continue to play a bigger role in day-to-day care due to rising costs. Thereby, leaving doctors to focus on the more challenging health related issues.

I would be interested to hear doctor's perspective. I would think it changes malpractice liability, as I believe PA's and NP's are generally covered under their institutional or practice-supplied policy. Wouldn't this require them to take out individual policies? What impact would that have on income and educational/training requirements.

[mark46th]

Typical liberal legislating. Write a plan that looks good on paper, makes the legislators feel good, makes the voters feel good but forget to do the research necessary to ensure the resources to enact said legislation is available...

[NurseTim]

Wow, I never saw this coming. I knew it was going to suck, but this is really bad. What next chiropractors as pcp? I'm an NP and do not see me practicing independently, I like to have the option. We can handle routine stuff to free up the doctor, with much more training, for the more complicated cases.

BTW, PAs and NPs can write for all prescriptions and in most states, all narcotics.

As to the veterinarian as pcp, they use many of the same medications and their diagnostic skills are top notch due to their traditional patients in ability to verbalized a history.

I have a problem with optometrist acting as a pcp. They are my go to guys for fundoscopies, corneal abrasions, diplopia, and presbyopia, but not laceration repair, DM management, HTN mgmt, or CHF. Add this training to their training then I'm good with it, but just saying "congratulations, you are now taking care of these things you currently have not clue about. Take care and don't get sued cause YOYO.

[JJ_BPK]

I guess I'm not the only combining their PPO..

Received this from a friend on FB..

Back in '81, I had my vasectomy done at my Vet's. Planned Parenthood wanted $300. My Vet did it for $75. I figured he had more experience, too. It wasn't so bad. The worst part was waiting in that cage for my wife to pick me up!