MD access still tightening
More than a quarter of Connecticut family practitioners are not accepting new patients, a new survey shows, and doctors said coming health reform may restrict access even more.
The Connecticut State Medical Society released a survey of nearly 500 primary-care physicians, in advance of its publication in the May issue of the journal Connecticut Medicine. The survey was funded by United Health Care Foundation of Connecticut.
On average, new patients in Connecticut face a wait of 18 days for a routine office visit. New Haven-based CSMS said the addition of patients currently lacking insurance would stretch urban practices and overwhelm those in rural areas, if structural issues are not addressed.
Half of the respondents reported that obtaining referrals to specialists for their patients had become more difficult over the past three years. Health-plan restrictions were the most significant reason cited for this difficulty, followed by the supply of physicians in specialty areas.
A quarter of physicians polled said they are contemplating a career change.
On the flip side, pediatricians were the most satisfied with practicing medicine in Connecticut.
“The clock is ticking,” said Dr. Kathleen LaVorgna, a Norwalk Hospital surgeon who is president of CSMS, in a prepared statement. “Connecticut policy-makers need to develop incentives to draw new physicians to our state before we are in crisis, because 49 other states will be vying for the same young physicians.”