Editorial Commentary: The Crisis of Government-Sponsored Health Care in America

Physicians and patients who participate in government-subsidized insurance face a looming crisis. The aging of the American population is producing ever increasing Medicare costs, and this crisis is not limited to federally run programs. Expansion of eligibility for Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act also produced increasing costs for this largely state-run program. Governmental cost containment efforts in health care have led to reductions in physician reimbursements, as well as increasing costs through added administrative burdens. When government insurers cut reimbursements, private insurers follow suit. This produces decreased dollars available, increased costs, and more individuals needing care. As physicians, we have a moral obligation to provide care for those in need, but declining reimbursements and rising costs force physicians to limit access for Medicare and Medicaid patients. We need to educate the public on why protecting health care spending is vital. No other group can or will advocate for physicians, nor are there better advocates for public health. If we do not act and advocate, this crisis will only worsen, and we will be forced to suffer the consequences of someone else's attempted solution. Physicians need to lobby for their patients to protect our ability to care for them. No one else will.