InCrowd conducted a physician survey examining the biggest cost concerns for medical professionals.
There were 203 physicians who completed the survey in November 2017, and 201 physicians completed a follow-up survey after Congress passed the tax bill in December. The post-tax bill survey included questions about expected cuts to Medicare and Medicaid as well as its impact on their practice and patients. Key findings include:
1. Seventy-six percent of the physicians believe there will be Medicaid cuts and 69 percent believe there will be Medicare cuts.
2. Half of physicians — 55 percent — think an ACA repeal would increase the cost of health insurance.
3. Sixty-nine percent of physicians feel the individual mandate was effective in increasing insurance coverage, but just 22 percent feel it was effective in lowering costs.
4. More than half — 57 percent — feel Americans should be required to carry health insurance.
5. Twenty percent of physicians feel ACA repeal was good for patients.
"With these issues ranking significantly higher than in years past, physicians appear as uncertain as many Americans when thinking about availability of affordable healthcare," said Diane Hayes, president and co-founder of InCrowd. "The latest repeal of the individual mandate for health coverage is a critical example of how the changing landscape impacts physicians and their patients."