Blog Debate: Fixing the Physician Shortage

by Timothy Foley · 2009-03-13 08:24:00 UTC
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Editor's Note:  This is the third day of a blog debate about what approach we should take on health care reform in 2009 will be Dr. Don McCanne, a retired family physician now serving as Senior Health Policy Fellow for Physicians for a National Health Program, and Jason Rosenbaum, a writer and activist, and the Deputy Director of Online Campaigns for Health Care for America Now! Dr. McCanne will be presenting the "single-payer" point of view, and Mr. Rosenbaum will be presenting the "public competitor" point of view.  You can read the first day's exchange here and the second day's exhange here.

This question was asked by reader Joshua Scheindler:  "What are these plans doing to ensure there are enough physicians, particularly primary care practitioners, to cover the huge new influx of patients with coverage?  We already have a physician shortage as it is.  Sub-question: should Nurse Practitioners and Physican Assistants start making up the difference in primary care?"

Update:

Read Jason Rosenbaum's response

Read Dr. Don McCanne's response

Read Jason Rosenbaum's rebuttal

(Photo credit:  SonnyandSandy on Flickr.)

Timothy Foley Tim has been an online organizer and blogger on health care policy for the Obama for America campaign and the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare.
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