The Obama-sponsored health care reform is one of the largest social legislation changes in decades. As in any major political change, people often wonder how it will impact their lives. School administrators and students are no different.
Some of the largest changes in the health care reform bill include eliminating denial of coverage for preexisting conditions, an end to lifetime insurance spending caps, and small business tax employee health insurance tax credits. But what has some people in the health care industry worried is the health insurance mandate.
Beginning in 2014, Americans will be required to obtain health insurance, or face a penalty. Generally, most Americans will continue to receive health insurance through their employers. However, those who are self employed, or working part time, will be forced to purchase insurance. Those significantly below the poverty line, will receive their insurance from the government via an expansion in Medicaid.
A fear is that the potential difference between what a procedure costs and what the government is willing to pay might have a negative impact on the income of health care professionals.
“There is a tendency of the government to say ‘We’ll only pay this much, period,’” said Dr. Linda Roberson, a biology professor and member of Lipscomb’s Health Professions Advisory Committee.
Roberson noted that people see how high their doctor bill is and forget the doctor’s costs. These costs include paying staff, overhead, school loans, and malpractice insurance that has skyrocketed as a result of frivolous lawsuits against doctors that are currently so popular. Also, the opportunity cost of many years of schooling is quite high.
With the amount of effort required to become a medical doctor, another hit to doctor incomes could push down the student demand for the degree. This issue is in the back of the minds of many Lipscomb administrators, but currently it hasn’t risen yet.
“Nobody is changing [majors], at least not anyone I’m in contact with,” Roberson said. “We probably won’t see an impact for a few years.”
Though there certainly are worries about the new changes, some students in the biology department support the bill.
“I think it’s a step in the right direction,” said Holly Wolfe, a senior pre-med student. “Also, since the health care market will expand there will be more positions opening up.”
However, Wolfe said that though many students in the biology department are excited about the health care changes, “a lot of freshman are worried about it.”
Wolfe believes that the new plan could hurt the pay of doctors at first, but overall it will be a better plan. Also, she thinks that any friction that occurs initially will work itself out.
Roberson also pointed out that litigation reform that lowered the cost of doctor’s malpractice insurance could help to offset any new costs brought on by the new health care bill.