Charitable giving stresses PA doctors
A survey finds that Pennsylvania doctors are nearing a breaking point as they try to care for uninsured patients.
A survey finds that Pennsylvania doctors are nearing a breaking point as they try to care for uninsured patients.
Listen: [audio:091214tecare.mp3]
The Pennsylvania Medical Society polled its members and more than half of doctors say requests for free and reduced-priced care increased this year. More than 400 doctors completed the survey and 62 percent said they can’t keep up the current pace of giving. James Goodyear leads the doctors group.
Goodyear: We’re happy to continue to provide care, and we’re happy to continue to provide charitable care, but if it’s continuing to increase at the expense of our practice that is an unsustainable situation.
The society says Pennsylvania doctors provided about $400 million in medical supplies and charitable care in 2008.
Goodyear says the findings are not surprising in an economic downturn, but they underscore the need for a health reform solution soon.
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