Letter to the President: Code Blue! Get Crash Cart STAT!

Dear Mr. President,

Please be aware that the doctors of this great nation are finding it near impossible to care for our patients, your people.  Our patients are literally dying as the debt crisis looms in limbo for way too long.  We are trying to avoid our patients demise, but with almost 1/2 of our population, especially seniors and kids, on Medicare and Medicaid this is already a major problem.  Further cuts would be detrimental to us and our patients, your constituents. 

Quality of care and proper treatment is near impossible especially with the physician shortage.  Medicare and Medicaid should be increases to help us provide, instead of being cut again and again. Payment delays are unacceptable. This statement from the American Academy of Family Practice (Payment Delays Resulting From Debt Ceiling Impasse Are Possible, AAFP Warns http://ow.ly/1dZzY0 ) details the problems as does the letter sent to you and  in June by AAFP Board Chair Lori Heim, M.D., who said, "If any budget proposal is to restrain the growth in health care spending, it must also support programs that build the family physician and primary care workforce, pay for quality and outcomes of medical care, and ensure that everyone has access to that care."  http://bit.ly/pFjeE7  This is a code blue! Can you imagine not getting paid for your hard work? Or getting sued because you lacked?

The worriation of this debt disease is infecting our people in many obvious ways.  I see those on limited incomes with no less than five chronic conditions struggle to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads as their health expenses become obliviously unaffordable.  We all know what happens then.  Chronic medical care that could have been avoided incurs, and we all pay, especially the patient and doctor.

As we strive for a Healthy People 2020, it is looking bleak.  Though Congress has the purse strings, the buck stops with you.  Eliminate this unnecessary worriation that has gone too far and too long causing more anxiety, suicide, and worsening of overall health for many. 

As family physicians on the forefront of patient care, the burden rests with us to do our best. The most you and Congress can do is resolve the present debt crisis.  If this was was your doctor treating you and your family, such delay would be unacceptable most likely leading to adverse outcomes.  Everyone must do their job as if someone's life depended on it. Much too often it does, especially for patients and doctors.

Thank you, Mr. Obama. 

Best regards,
Dr. Richardson