Dear Representative:

Regardless of your political philosophy, you need to know the ominous effects upon physicians and the consequences to patients based upon your interpretation of what Health Care Reform should be.

Your political philosophy does not allow you to be an expert in health care reform. It may or may not even inform you as to the humanitarian implications. You need to know from the people who are the most heavily involved in health care what the effects of what you are about to do may cause.And then add this into your decision making process which without this kind of information from physicians is incomplete. Thank you.

This survey may or may not represent the opinions of Southern Medical Association or its individual members.

"In a physician survey conducted December 2009 byThe Medicus Firm, a national physician search firm, 24.7% of physicians stated that they would "retire early" if a public option is implemented, and an additional 21.0% of respondents stated that they would quit practicing medicine, even though they are nowhere near retirement.This brings the amount of physicians who would leave medicine to a total of 45.7%."

The Medicus Firm Physician Survey: Health Reforms Potential Impact on Physician Supply and Quality of Medical Care

Key Findings from The Medicus Firm Survey
Physician Support of Health Reform in General
• / 62.7%of physicians feel that health reform is needed but should be implemented in a more targeted, gradual way, as opposed to the sweeping overhaul that is in legislation.
• / 28.7%of physicians are in favor of a public option.
• / 3.6%of physicians prefer the “status quo” and feel that theU.S.health care system is best “as is.”
Health Reform and Primary Care Physicians
• / 46.3%of primary care physicians (family medicine and internal medicine) feel that the passing of health reform will either force them out of medicine or make them want to leave medicine.
Health Reform, Public Option, and Practice Revenue/Physician Income
• / 41%of physicians feel that income and practice revenue will “decline or worsen dramatically” with a public option.
• / 30%feel income will “decline or worsen somewhat” with a public option.
• / 9%feel income will “improve somewhat” with a public option, and0.8%feel income will “improve dramatically” with a public option.
Health Reform, Public Option, and Physician Supply
• / 72%of physicians feel that a public option would have a negative impact on physician supply, with45%feeling it will “decline or worsen dramatically” and27%predicting it will “decline or worsen somewhat.”
• / 24%of physicians think they will try to retire early if a public option is implemented.
• / 21%of physicians would try to leave medicine if a public option is implemented, even if not near retirement age at the time.
Health Reform and Recommending Medicine to Others as a Career
• / 36%of physicians would not recommend medicine as a career, regardless of health reform.
• / 27%would recommend medicine as a career but not if health reform passes.
• / 25%of physicians would recommend medicine as a career regardless of health reform.
• / 12%would not recommend medicine as a career now but feel that they would recommend it as a career if health reform passes