[ayash]

What do you think? With this new health care bill hopefully there will be a higher demand for physicians which means increased residency slots available in the near future.

Here is an excerpt from CNN news

"Last year, the American Academy of Family Physicians predicted a shortfall of 40,000 primary care doctors, and that was before the signing of the health care bill. That will put another 32 million people into the system -- with a promise of free preventive care -- and insurance to pay for regular doctor visits. Some physicians have expressed concern about this. Patients could see increased wait times, as in Massachusetts, where since "RomneyCare" went into effect, residents wait an 10 extra days to see the doctor. But others say the bill will help create more community health centers, so primary care can happen at these centers instead of expensive emergency rooms."

 

[khanar]

The new Health Care Plan is not Good News for IMGs

Am not so optimistic about the new health care plan.

First, they will cover the shortage by graduating more people from US medical schools. They already increased medical schools admissions last two years and within a couple of yours you'll see 20-25% increase in the number of US doctors. So IMGs have no place in this game.

Second, the proposed increase in community health centers means that it will be even more difficult for IMGs to get into University programs and therefore in a matter of few years you will forget about sub-specialty fellowships. You will be just a regular FM taking 100-200 grand per year envying your fellow procedural doctors who are taking "400-1000" grand per year

 

[khanar]

Yes it will be easier for IMGs to match but don't be happy

Yes, the doors will open for IMGs but there will be less IMGs interested!

The cuts in health care costs are burdened on the Health Insurance Companies (HICs). But these companies are not stupid. They will do everything to regain and cash re-flow their revenues and profits.

HICs will say OK now we are covering 1000 patients and paying $100 per patient for each doctor but since we are required to cover 2000 patients with the same money so we will give $50 per patient for each doctor

They will not let this cost taken from their profits they will take it from the doctor's mouth.

In a matter of few years you'll see US health care transforming into something similar to the European health care system, what's called socialized medicine.

Now, you have British, Italians, Germans, ...etc coming to USA because the US doctor's salary is better than their countries but with this health care reform they will not be interested anymore and so the doors will be open for IMGs from developing countries.

Not only that, US families will not send their kids to medical college anymore because the doctor's salary is not nice anymore! So the doors will be open for IMGs.

So you will have more opportunities but don't be happy, you'll get a low salary and you will not be interested in USA anymore.

Even this website may think to close!

 

[ayash]

I don't know Mary, I don't think the US healthcare system will reach the point of social medicine to the extent it is in Europe. I personally lived in Europe for a number of years and even as a foreigner there I was able to get medical services just like its citizens, and guess what, free or pennies on the dollar.