Physicians Know What It Takes
Can physicians develop the best way to repeal, replace, or tweak the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? Quite possibly! After all, doctors are intricately involved with all aspects of healthcare and are close enough to see problems, solutions, and aspects of the issue that might not be obvious to others.
The ACA is one of the most contentious issues in healthcare accessibility and delivery. President Trump has vowed to repeal the ACA, and although the American Health Care Act bill has been passed by the House of Representatives, it faces a stiff battle in the Senate.
Medscape believes that the best plan may come from physicians. On March 28, Medscape kicked off a contest asking physicians, "How would you repeal or replace" the ACA? Each of the five winners received a $300 Amazon.com gift card. More than 600 physicians submitted their thoughts and plans for what they consider a viable replacement.
The entries showed an impressive degree of deep thinking, provocative analysis, and far-reaching perspective.
As expected, there are widely diverse opinions as to the plan that would be best for patients, physicians, and the healthcare sector. To be sure, a large percentage of physicians support the ACA. "Fix it, don't repeal it!" was a common battle cry. Many are convinced that the ACA addresses the task it set out to accomplish: Make coverage available to uninsured Americans, and work toward creating less costly healthcare delivery.
