| >Technically, you can pin this on undersupply Well said overall, but the supply of doctors isn't the issue here (regardless of if it's a separate, bigger problem). 1) This case is what mid-levels are ideally suited for. Routine and can be seen within a day or two. Would have moved the whole timetable forward. 2) It's the supply of doctors participating in any given insurance plan or govt reimbursement scheme, not overall supply. It's pretty easy to find a doctor to see same-day if you pay cash (either straight cash or front cash and submit your own reimbursement). Which is itself more an issue about regulation being so burdensome and costly that doctors can't afford it without joining a large group or hospital owned practice. Especially the cost of required electronic records. Which is why it seems like all the small private practices are being bought out by hospitals. Because they either are, or their docs are retiring, or they are opting out of all insurance and govt plans and going concierge/prepaid/membership/cash-only. What I'm curious about is #1: why couldn't this person get in to see a mid-level sooner? They rarely book more than a few days out. It's exactly the type of issue that they are meant to help with to reduce demand on the doctors and get patients seen quicker. A routine refill without any nontypical complexities or changes to report. Did approval specifically require a physician? That would be more of a system problem that needs resolving. |