Doctors already burned out over policy requirements as MACRA rollout looms, survey finds
In fact, the sweeping Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, known as MACRA, was known to only 20 percent of physicians surveyed.
Physician morale is low, which is leading them to be less prepared for healthcare reforms like MACRA and value-based reimbursement, according to a new survey from The Physician's Foundation and Merritt Hawkins. In fact, the pressures of the job has 48 percent of physicians planning to retire, cut back on patients or hours, or seek non-clinical, administrative roles.
The survey of more than 17,000 physicians found 54 percent of doctors have "very negative" morale and 63 percent have a pessimistic view the medical profession's future. Also, 49 percent said they frequently feel burnt out, and 80 percent said they are overextended or at capacity, which means they can't take new patients. Almost half said their time with patients is always or frequently limited.
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The major reasons behind all that negativity are regulatory and paperwork burden and "loss of clinical autonomy," the survey found. Respondents said they spend 21 percent of their time on non-clinical paperwork, and 14 percent said they have the necessary time to "provide the highest standards of care."
Because of those concerns, physicians are looking at changes to the standard full-time private practice. Results show only 33 percent list themselves as private practice owners, a 16 percent decrease from 2012, while 58 percent say they are employees, a 14 percent jump from 2012. Results also showed that employed physicians see 19 percent fewer patients than practice owners, fueling concerns about current trends adversely affecting access to care.
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Some are considering big changes as well: 13.5 percent said they will seek non-clinical, administrative jobs, 21 percent will cut back on hours worked, and 14 percent will retire. Others listed switching to part-time work and concierge medicine as possibilities.
"Many physicians are dissatisfied with the current state of the medical practice environment and they are opting out of traditional patient care roles," said Walker Ray, president of The Physicians Foundation. "The implications of evolving physician practice patterns for both patient access and the implementation of healthcare reform are profound."
Lack of awareness or engagement with major aspects of healthcare reform was another major finding in the study. For instance, only 43 percent of respondents said their compensation is tied to value, and of those, 77 percent said it's a small amount of their compensation, 20 percent or less. Also, the sweeping Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, known as MACRA, was known to only 20 percent of physicians surveyed.
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Additionally, physicians surveyed showed little confidence in other key elements of healthcare reform. Only 11 percent of those surveyed think accountable care organizations will enhance quality and lower costs, and only 25 percent said electronic health records improved efficiency.
"Clearly, more physician participation in and acceptance of the key levers of healthcare reform will be needed for a true transformation of the healthcare system from volume to value," Ray said.
Twitter: @BethJSanborn
