Opinions: Changing times: Doctors face unexpected, severe economic challenges

Key Points

With all of the potential changes, On Call wondered if dermatologists are optimistic or pessimistic about the coming year.

We asked if they feel potential solutions will be found for the nation's problems. Some dermatologists say that, based on experience, they have no choice but to take a rather jaundiced view of the future.

"Our office, consisting of five dermatologists, has not received any payments from Medicare since June. We're barely making ends meet and are only able to stay open because we also take HMOs and PPOs and a few private patients. If we had a single-payer system, we would be out of business.

"The Democrats plan to represent their plan as choice, when the fact is, it is quite the opposite. They represent government control, and the government has sure made a mess of this. A single payer would be a disaster. We would be out of business."

Dr. Paslin, an assistant clinical professor at University of California, San Francisco, hopes - but isn't convinced - the movement can be stopped.

"I guess it depends on the capacity of the Republicans to filibuster. Every vote counts, and some of the Republicans are fairly weak sisters. They may not stand up in defense of personal freedom.

"Lack of choice has always been repugnant to me. I prefer personal freedom. I don't like the notion of the collective," Dr. Paslin says.

In Santa Cruz, Calif., Michael Dacey, M.D., laughs at the question.

"I would say I'm a bit pessimistic, although we've chosen a specialty where the demand is high. I think primary care physicians will have problems first, with people hesitating to go see their doctor.

"I work with a large multispecialty group, and already, they're seeing emptier urgent cares. On a personal level, I think people even want to save on their co-pay," he says.