Doctors Have Those Single Payer Blues

Good grief. A survey of physicians, conducted by Jackson Healthcare, finds that 26% of physicians are not taking new Medicare patients, and 51% refusing new Medicaid patients. And with the Independent Payment Advisory Board and other Obamacare monstrosities, expect things to get worse.

One could whistle past the graveyard and note, correctly, that this isn’t Gallup. But the trend in this regard is clear across the country. Like I have been saying—I wish it weren’t so, but reality bites—single payer health care leads to doctor shortages and rationing.  Time for a new approach.

Next
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Of Roots and Adventures

Peter J. Leithart

I have lived in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia (twice), Pennsylvania, Alabama (also twice), England, and Idaho. I left…

Our Most Popular Articles of 2025

The Editors

It’s been a big year for First Things. Our website was completely redesigned, and stories like the…

Our Year in Film & Television—2025

Various

First Things editors and writers share the most memorable films and TV shows they watched this year.…